52 



CHAPTER VII 



How War would Intensify Poverty — Grave Peril 

 TO THE Nation 



LET us now try and realise what would happen to 

 us if war broke out between this country and one 

 or more of the great European States; and let us not 

 shirk this question as we shirk so many others, because 

 war is imminent unless we change much that is objec- 

 tionable, both in our international polic}' and in the in- 

 ternal economic conditions of the country. 



The recent experiences of the South African War 

 teach us that when war breaks out, even in remote parts 

 of the Empire, markets at once become disturbed, 

 " comers " are formed, supphes are " held up," and 

 prices advance all along the line. 

 General We remember going into a shop to buy some silk 

 Prices socks; prices had considerably advanced, and we asked 

 the reason why. " The war has affected the price," was 

 the answer. " But," we remarked, " we don't get our 

 silk from South Africa." " Oh," said the shopman, " I 

 don't know about that, socks are dearer, anyway." 



Do not pass this little incident over with a smile, for 

 it is no laughing matter, but one of serious import and 

 full of tragedy. 



War with a great European power means far more to 

 the people of Great Britain than the South African 



