meating tf a wari vim a us). This line ja va haps the better euatima n might be described as keeping & UNber of questions in suspenas n the mind. With these leading questions definitely in his mind, the student should keep an eye open for al knowledge bearing on these ques H tions. Without some such methods, seletively wit we shall get hopelessly lost in a of puzzling facts, we shall nev the truths that matter, "r the forest for the trees." I FRAME THE PROBLEMS FIRST Now there is no trouble in knowing "what it is we want to know" in the present war; no lack of questions demanding answers, no lack of working hypotheses as to how the thing has come about, or of plans as to how it can be prevented in the future. And if we are to make real use of those two thousand books, instead of attacking them in such a way that we come from the reading of a few more confused and confounded than we were before we began on them, we must do what I have suggested. We must frame the question first, then find out which of the books or which part of a given book is most pertinent to it; and then read not "at large" but with the one idea of throwing light on the particular problem we desire to elucidate. The method of keeping a number of questions in suspense in the mind is that which with certain modifications forms the basis of the outlines. of study embraced in the handbooks "The Foundations of National Greatness" and "Force and Faith."+ The first study in the former book raises a fundamental issue by the very provocative question: "Are we worth fighting for?" rendering that question more definite by the subsidiary questions: "For what end does a nation exist?" "Towards whom has the nation duties to discharge?" "What is the difference between unity and uniformity?" * W. C. Braithwaite: "Foundations of National Greatness." Nat'l. Adult School Union, Central Bldgs., Westminister, 3d. + G. Currie Martin, "Force and Faith." A SAMPLE PROBLEM Or, to take a problem of less general nature: We may be uneasy in our minds concerning the position of Russia after this war. Is it likely to constitute a danger? We may have heard of the possibility of a Cossack Europe and wonder whether a powerful Germany may not be necessary to offset it. Is the Russian peril a real peril? Well, a glance at the contents of a book like "The War and Democracy"* would show us that it contains a chapter occupying only forty pages on the subject of Russia and dealing briefly with that particular question; and at the end of that chapter we shall find a very full list of books on Russia and its problems, with a summary of each from which we could gather whether it dealt with the particular problem we had in hand. We should emerge from a course of reading on that subject with perhaps a slightly modified notion, a new working hypothesis of our relation to the rest of the world. But if you should get into discussion with an anti-Russian he might tell you that Russia had always been * R. W. Seton-Watson, J. Dover Wilson, Alfred E. Zimmern, Arthur Greenwood, "The War and Democracy," Macmillan, 1915. aggressive, "crafty," unreliable, and that on such and such an occasion she betrayed us. What is the historical truth? Again you will find that you can with a little practice rapidly make even a big book of history deliver up its information on that one subject, if you read it for that one purpose; later you may have to go to the same book to find the answer to an entirely different question. HOW TO USE THE BOOKS Now, if this process is repeated as and when definite questions present themselves, if a book or group of books is read first for the light thrown on one definite problem or difficulty and all that it says on other points disregarded; and then the same book or books for the next question, and so on, you may not have read every page of the two thousand books, but you will have won from them most of what they NOTE.-In view of the fact that American students might not find it easy to procure some of the hand-books mentioned in this article, especially those written by Mr. Braithwaite and Mr. G. Currie Martin, the Editors of The World Court venture to suggest that the methods of study recommended by Mr. Angell might be advantageously employed with other text-books, published in America and therefore more accessible. Books that would be particularly useful have to tell you on just those things which, since you have to settle them, you most desire light and guidance. In no other way can so vast a mass of facts and learning be laid under tribute by the average busy man. It should of course be remembered that in order thoroughly to deal with any one issue you must to some extent include all other issues. Thus, present Balkan politics go back to the Crimean War and that was concerned with England's hold on India and so on, but the very fact of discovering that it is not possible to deal fully with one issue without bringing in others, helps us to realize "how it works," to see the relation of one fact in history to another, to understand the real nature of international relations, and of human society generally. And this understanding of the underlying general law, so essential if we are to apply our knowledge to the solution of actual problems of politics, could never have been obtained by trying to swallow whole an incoherent hodge-podge of disconnected facts. Now, as already hinted, the problems of this war are only too plain. We started out with the hope that it was to be the war that would end war! Is that possible? It is surely the fundamental question that we all have in our minds. Is this really to be the last war? In other words, (1) Is a Society of Nations possible? From that major question arises the secondary one whose answer alone can give us an opinion. Is conflict between nations inevitable owing to the struggle for life? Is war really a "struggle for bread?" Is war thus biologically inevitable? Is this the true application of evolution to human society? Is peace even desirable? Would mankind in a world of peace "perish from its own moral and physical corruption," as a great English scholar recently declared? Does war make for the "survival of the fittest?" Did Nietschze believe that "war for its own sake is one of the highest goods that can come to a nation?" Is this true? Do the Germans believe it? Is this a war between conflicting ideals, between the ethics of Nietschze and the ethics of Christ? (2) Should the Settlement be based on the Principle of Nationality? Is nationality a matter of race, language, mode of life, common traditions, or is it made up of all these things? Is the sentiment of nationality a valuable element in the life of civilized peoples or a survival that should be swept away by the increase of travel and interdependence? Is nationality primarily a spiritual force or a demand for political independence? What light is thrown on this question by the position of the Jews; of the French-Canadian; of the Germans in the United States and of the Slav races in Austria-Hungary? (3) What Frontier Rearrangements are necessary? How is the Alsace-Lorraine problem to be solved? Is its retrocession to France likely to cause a war for its reconquest by Germany in the next generation? How is the new Should Poland to be constituted? Italy have the Trentino? or Russia Constantinople? Should the Dardanelles be internationalized? Should the boundaries of Serbia be enlarged? (4) Can National Greatness be built upon Military Power? What makes a nation great? Is it a question of extent of territory? Is a German greater than a Belgian? Is it a question of the happiness, moral elevation and well being of individual citizens? Can these be advanced by military power? (5) Can We Avoid European Wars in the Future? How do wars arise? Can they be avoided "by being so strong that your enemy will not dare to attack you?" Are they caused by the "the ineradicable wickedness" or the "eradicable folly" of mankind? Is war "the failure of human wisdom" or is it the result of the inevitable rivalry of competing states? Is the tendency of progress towards rivalry or towards cooperation? These are five important divisions of the main problem that face us and upon which all of us will be called to give our judgment in one form or another. The study of the first question which is concerned with conflicting ideals will be facilitated by the Study Circle Notes on "Force and Faith" by G. Currie Martin. The Second and Third Division should be examined in the light of "The War and Democracy" and the other books recommended therein. A scheme of study has been drawn up by Wm. Charles Braithwaite on the "Foundations of National Great ness" to guide the student on the questions in division 4, and an analysis of the problems outlined in division 5 is given in Norman Angell's handbook, "Problems of the War and the Peace."* * Published in London by William Heineman. Published in the United States by G. P. Putman's Sons, New York, under title of "Arms and Industry." The divisions indicated are, of course, arbitrary, and they do not show the full scope of either of the four guides to students which have been mentioned. But they help at least to form questions in our minds, to enable us to know what it is we want to know. And that is the first step to learning and making use of what others may be able to teach. T Announcement HE World Court Magazine publishes the article by Norman Angell on "How To Study the Problems of the War" and the selected bibliography of important books concerning international affairs which accompanies the articles, in the hope that they will be helpful to observers and students of the great drama now enacted upon the world-stage. To these articles the editors invite the attention of students and teachers of history and politics, whether in college or out of it; of all who are interested in the work of debating societies and current events clubs in colleges and in schools; of members of International Polity Clubs; of members of reading clubs, women's clubs and study circles; and finally of present and prospective teachers in the public schools who appreciate their responsibility for the training of children in citizenship. Articles of similar or related nature will appear in each succeeding issue of the magazine, if it is evident that such publications can be used to satisfy a real need. We especially wish to present material that will assist debaters in college and elsewhere in preparing themselves to discuss intelligently any and all phases of international relations. With that end in view we are ready to begin the publication of suitable topics for such discussion, and of complete outlines of debates on such subject, with references for further study. Send a post card or letter now to Editor The World Court Magazine, 120 Broadway, New York, if you want us to make a regular feature of this kind of material. |