THE EEGULATION OF NUMBERS 307 



saw a teeming population ready to burst its bonds and overwhelm 

 them. Again, as between England and Germany it appeared to 

 many Germans that, while Germany had little or no opportunity 

 of expansion. Great Britain had owing to her overseas dominions 

 ample opportunity. But increase is governed by the conditions 

 within a country, and the fact that emigration from Great Britain 

 to Greater Britain was possible did not enter into the situation 

 as regards the control of increase in Great Britain ; very many 

 people in this country, however, as well as in Germany, if they did 

 not actually think that it did so, at least held opinions which 

 were in fact founded upon this supposition. Thus though in 

 actual fact England broadly speaking restricted her population as 

 did Germany in accordance with the economic situation within the 

 country, yet the position of England with reference to Greater 

 Britain had an influence upon the situation, and many Germans 

 thought that unless there was an outlet for ' surplus population ' 

 Germany would eventually be over-populated, whereas the fact 

 is that, as we have seen, so long as conditions remain healthy in 

 a country, over-population does not arise.^ 



This subject could be elaborated at great length. Upon 

 analysis it would always be found that, though certain aspects of 

 the population problem and certain mistaken views of the position 

 may and do predispose nations and governments towards war, 

 it is not true strictly speaking to say that the population question 

 is in any sense a cause of war. War has now merely become 

 a mode of action whereby an organized state tries to achieve 

 certain political ends. It is within the power of mankind to 

 renounce this mode of action. There is nothing in the nature of 

 man or of social organization which renders war inevitable. 

 ' Dieu ne leur a donne ni des canons de vingt-quatre ni des 

 baionnettes, et ils se sont fait des baionnettes et des canons pour 

 se detruire.' - 



' It has been remarked that those countries which began the war were on the 

 whole the countries witli the highest birth-rate. The conclusion has been drawn 

 that pressure of population brings about war. On the same lines as above, this 

 conclusion may bo shown to be unacceptable. 



^'Voltaire, Candide — the opinion of the Anabaptist Jacques. 



U2 



