Word: nationalism
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Dates: during 1910-1919
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...scope and must not have its principles laid down by a Metternich. It is to be hoped that gradual disarmament would result from the continued life of this league, but it is obvious that the mere establishment of the system would by no means bring about immediate disarmament. Unappeased national distrust and jealousies would prevent it; and, in addition, the enforcing (or guaranteeing) of peace implies and necessitates the use of armed force against insurgent members of the league. At its inception, the league would necessarily consist of an association of armed nations. Each nation would enjoy an equal status...
...armament will be set in the future. Each European country exhausted by the war, will be glad enough to reduce the scale,--providing only it can be sure al others will agree to do so. Organization against aggression will tremendously reduce the amount of armament required by each nation for protection; and every nation tells the world that it is arming for defense only...
...much for the negative aspect of the question. Let us consider for a moment some of the almost inevitable consequences of the inauguration of a system of universal military training. In the first place, every student of international relations is well aware that the strengthening of a nation's military establishment incites either nations to do likewise; so that, not only are the resources of all the countries concerned taxed to the utmost, in the vain hope of successfully vying with one another in the up building of armaments, but the very act of increasing a country's military forces...
Again, every one who inquires impartially into the fundamental causes underlying modern wars is struck by the fact that in almost every case a nation declares hostilities, not in self-defence or to ward off invasion, but in the secret interest of powerful and unscrupulous commercial, manufacturing and financial combinations, who, for their own selfish purposes, play upon the public's sense of fear, patriotism or national pride. "National honor" and "manifest destiny" represent hackneyed--though, alas, still potent--catch-words employed in this connection. What assurance has the American people that a vast and efficient military establishment will...
...does become a reality, the United States will be called upon to furnish its quota of the forces which are to police the world. Is it to be expected that other countries will deem our pitiful mobile field force of approximately 25,000 men a sufficient contribution from a nation numbering over 100,000,000 inhabitants...