29. War Aims

As there was great uncertainty how, if victory were achieved, the spoils would be divided, it was impossible for statesmen, in the Allied nations, to be precise as to what specific aims with regard to territorial adjustments and colonial acquisitions could be laid down as desirable objects, without rousing jealousy and suspicion amongst themselves. It became necessary therefore to announce some general high-sounding moral ideals which might give the war the character of an almost religious crusade. They were particularly unfortunate in selecting a number of cries everyone of which has proved, in the long run, to be false.

A War to Crush Militarism.

Everyone knows now that militarism cannot be crushed by war. Even if it is removed from one quarter it only grows stronger elsewhere. Militarism can only be crushed by the growth of real democracy in an era of peace. Only a few figures are required to show how false this cry was if it was ever believed by anyone. The Morning Post was honest enough to refer to it as “ this absurd talk.”

THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

Expenditure on Fighting Services.

1913-14. 1924-25- £110,750,000 £117,525,000 While fully taking into account the fall in the value of money, which would show a slight decrease in the second figure rather than increase, no substantial reduction, which might be expected as a consequence of a war to end militarism, is in any way apparent.

For the same period the aggregate totals for the four Allied powers, France, Italy, the United States, and Japan are:

1913. 1923.

£194,380,623 £244,864,477 Since the war, that is to say, from 1918 to 1926, Great Britain has spent over £1,300,000,000 on armaments. To have said therefore that the war would crush militarism, was the most extravagant and foolish of all speculations. It would be an insult to the intelligence of any of the statesmen to suggest that they ever for a moment believed it would be true.

A War to Defend Small Nationalities.

The ultimatum to Serbia and the infringement of Belgian neutrality led to the widespread cry that we were fighting “ for the rights of small nationalities.”

It means next that room must be found and kept for the independent existence and free development of the smaller nationalities, each with a corporate consciousness of its own.

Mr. Asquith on War Aims, Dublin, September 26, 1914.

There were a host of other declarations from responsible Ministers of a similar character.

But this was no more true than any of the other cries. Apart from the minorities placed under alien rule by frontier delimitations drawn for strategic purposes and not according to race or nationality, Montenegro was wiped off the map by the Peace Treaties, although the restoration of Montenegro was specially mentioned by the Prime Minister on January 3, 1918 (National War Aims pamphlet No. 33), the British occupation of Egypt continues, the Syrians have been subjected to severe repression by the French (the bombing of Damascus), the attempt of the Riffs at securing independence led to their being blotted out, Nicaragua and Panama are being subjected to the political domination of the United States, and other instances might be given in which the struggle of “ small nationalities ” is simply regarded as a revolutionary or subversive move. There may be good political reasons for the instances given in the eyes of the Great Powers, but the endeavour to persuade the people that we were fighting for small nationalities was the purest hypocrisy.

A War to Make the World Safe for Democracy.

The absurdity of this meaningless cry on the part of the Allies, amongst whom was Czarist Russia, is obvious. Its insincerity is proved by results. There is now the most ruthless dictatorship ever established in Italy; an imitation of it in Spain; a veiled dictatorship in Poland ; a series of attempted dictatorships in Greece ; something which approaches near to a dictatorship in Hungary; Turkey and Persia are both dominated by individuals with almost sovereign prerogatives, and the Soviet system is a form of dictatorship. In fact, except in Great Britain, the United States, the Scandinavian countries, Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland, parliamentary government has been in grave danger where it has not been entirely superseded.

A War to End War.

This was hardly an original cry. It has been uttered in previous wars, although every schoolboy knows that war breeds war.

We have long been deceived by the false counsels of politicians and sentimentalists who are even now pretending that this is a war that will end war. War will never end as long as human nature continues to be human nature.

“ Mortting Post,” October 20, 1915.

So far as the Great War is concerned, the Morning Post seems to be correct up to date. Since 1918 fighting has never ceased in the world. There has been war on the part of the Allies against Russia, war between Turkey and Greece, the Black and Tan exploits in Ireland, the armed occupation of the Ruhr, war of France and Spain against the Riffs, war of France against the Syrians, military action on the part of the U.S.A. in Nicaragua, fighting in Mexico, and incessant war in China.

No Territory for Great Britain.

The statement that whatever we were fighting for we desired no fresh territory was frequently made. Considering that the British Empire comprised over thirteen million square miles of the earth’s surface in 1914, the statement was accepted as wise and sensible. A few of the chief declarations on the subject may be given.

We have no desire to add to our Imperial burdens either in area or in responsibility.

Mr. Asquith, October 1914.

Our direct and selfish interests are small.

Air. Asquith, November 1914.

We are not fighting for territory.

Mr. Bonar Law, December 1916.

We are not fighting a war of conquest.

Mr. Lloyd George, February 1917.

Such a victory as will give not aggrandiaement of territory nor any extension of our Empire.

Mr. Long, February 1917.

i66 So much for the protestations for public consumption. Now as to the facts with regard to what “ fell to us ” when it was all over.

Square Miles.

Egfpt, formerly under Turkish suzerainty, became part of the British Empire .350,000 Cyprus, formerly under Turkish suzerainty, became part of the British Empire . 3.584 German South-West Africa, mandate held by the Union of South Africa .. .. .. .. 322,450 German Bast Africa, mandate held by Great Britain 384,180 Togoland and Cameroons, divided between Great Briuin and France (say half) .112,415 TdAvod, mandate held by New Zealand .. .. 1,050 German Netv Guinea and Island south of Equator, mandate held by Australia . 90,000 Palestine, mandate held by Great Britain .. .. 9,000 Mesopotamia (Iraq), mandate held by Great Britain 143,250 Total in square miles .. .. .. 1,415,929 This is not a bad total of “ conquest ” “ territory,” “ addition to Imperial burdens in area and responsibility,” and “ extension of Empire.” But surely it would have been better not to make the false declarations which inevitably bring against us the charge of hypocrisy.