America and the Race for World Dominion by A. Demangeon Review by: B. B.

Kendrick The Journal of International Relations, Vol. 12, No. 4 (Apr., 1922), pp. 579-581 Published by: Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/29738523 . Accessed: 04/10/2013 01:31
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BOOK REVIEWS

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at Paris during such a short but highly concentrated experience of 1919 (p. 244). the Peace Conference ex? of unusual The book contains many passages clearness, and aptness. But the literary quality is somewhat pressiveness, leaves sentences disfigured by hasty editing, which occasionally or obscure (what for example is the meaning of "His unfinished were and many-wived loves were many-wived (Mohammed's) on to of his loves" words standardize forms page 108), and fails on page 159). Nor is the proofread? for Anadoli (as Ananadoll errors might These minor criticism. ing and spelling beyond a new in since be detract the high from well edition removed they value of an important contribution toward the solution of one of of our time. the major problems Albert H. University Lybyer, of Illinois.

A. Demangeon. and the Race for World Dominion. America and New Company, 1921, xiv, York, Page Doubleday, 234 pp. $2.00. in France under the title, Le This book was first published de VEurope. The D?clin translation, by Mr. Arthur Bartlett well title has been done, but the English Maurice, exceptionally is somewhat misleading, the French title being a much more ac? It is true that of the contents of the book. curate description the author emphasizes that this country is the chief heir to former but that is not his leading theme. greatness, European is "to consider the This theme, in the author's own words, one of has of vital results the been the of wealth that war, shifting not from the social aspect, but from the broader view of inter? he goes on this as his point of departure, nationalism." Taking to show that beginning with the age of the discoveries Europe rest of the the her control economic upon imposed gradually control reached its climax about the "This European world. Her ships carried the products of the present century. beginning for exotic commodities; of remote lands, her ports were the markets later to direct in her banks she gathered the profits of commerce turned of virgin regions; her factories them to the exploitation to peoples out the manufactured articles that she sold everywhere with territorities she furnished empty inadequately equipped; to colonize them; in a word, she the men and women necessary her strength and fed the world with the treasures of her money, her life."

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This is all commonplace enough, but the question now is, has not the ascendency of the world passed from the older civilization or backward to what was formerly unoccupied regions in general, in particular? and America The answer is, it has. First is the matter of financial power. Before the war Europe was a creditor of America, Japan, and of course all the backward regions. Today this debt is paid and besides Europe owes us a sum of money the annual interest on which alone, the author estimates at six hundred of dollars. In the meantime sixty-five millions Japan has and and together America largely paid off her debts to Europe, countries as the chief creditors Japan have replaced the European of South America and Asia. and Japanese American banking of relinquishing houses have no intention their advantage, but on the other hand are daily strengthening at the their positions concerns. of European sea power financial expense Likewise, and industrial power are going the same route. It is true that the impetus given by the war to these changes is partly halted by the return of peace, but there is no indication that the current has turned or will turn in the other direction. What puted germs the author proves by his arguments based upon undis? statistics is that imperialism contains within itself the of its own eventual destruction. Two things are bound to and

nations begin the exploitation, happen when several imperialistic or settlement of backward In the first place conquest regions. these powers are almost certain to quarrel among themselves and their own substance in a war for supremacy. In the destroy recent war, for instance, Russia were completely and Germany as imperialistic wrecked mere territorial in of powers, and, spite France and Italy were, as M. Demangeon gains, England, points weakened. out, very materially But more still is the other point?the significant principal of this book. contribution In spite of the fact that the imperial? istic power tries to keep all the important offices, industrial con? and as as well finan? cessions, managerial technological positions, cial power in the hands of its own nationals, sooner or later the more and natives to become ambitious intelligent enterprising take over all these good things for themselves. This is what has in America and Japan. cause This is the fundamental happened of the present discontent and unrest in Egypt, India and China. South America is impatient of forever remaining in the leading and the United It is only a question States. strings of Europe of time before the natives of Africa and the islands of the sea will feel the same urge.

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is that the advanced of M. Demangeon's position to fact nations the that international recognize ought imperialistic wars for control are worse than useless and they should further of the backward countries unite on a policy of general guardianship with the central idea that just so soon as the natives are desirous to do so. But French? of going it alone they should be permitted men are not much given to such moralizing and we have nothing logic of the sort here; but he does clearly state that the imperialistic is pretty well played out and the best thing for game for Europe France to do, at least, is to spend more of her capital and energy and gradually in domestic put aside her agelong development is a bit of advice which ambitions. This every imperialistic fellow countrymen of France hopes M. Demangeon's well-wisher will follow. B. B. Kendrick, Columbia University. Palmer. Frederick New York, Dodd The Folly of Nations. and 408 1921. Mead pages. Company, Palmer has seen war at first hand since 1897, when Frederick his career as war correspondent began in the rather old fashioned, it folly He says he thought Turko-Grecian struggle. glamorous to His pictures of the old peasant, at the time. get his trying us of idea the book. out of the of the range guns, gives key sheep This shepherd looked upon war as a sort of "act of God"?some? We and pestilences. thing which just came, like earthquakes a attributes the author the that goodly portion get impression to men?men of the ilk of the pot-bellied, of the responsibility nest who stirred up the hornets' Greek platitudinous Deputy, If this is so, we have something from a safe distance. tangible on which and the simple-minded to work?both the Deputy people who listen to him. of the "McAndrew's The discussion imperialis? Epoch"?the the "white man's tic period which discovered burden," made some small wars of organized peoples, and against unorganized rather tedious read? the way for the tragedy of 1914?is on Sore In "The World's this and the chapter following ing. saw him? accounts what he of the author mixes telling Spots," on the significance reflections self with but over-long intelligent ideas evi? and prosy meandering of these experiences through and dis? derived The disgraceful from books. pillaging dently invasion of China to put down order accompanying the Powers' paved

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