138 THE POSSIBILITIES 



earth region will have one desire : that the 

 increase of population may permit the use of 

 the steam-digger and gardening culture in the 

 steppes ; that it may permit those who are 

 now the beasts of burden of humanity to raise 

 their backs and to become at last men. 



We must, however, recognise that there are 

 a few economists fully aware of the above 

 truths. They gladly admit that Western 

 Europe could grow much more food than it 

 does ; but they see no necessity nor advan- 

 tage in doing so, as long as there are nations 

 which can supply food in exchange for manu- 

 factured goools. Let us then examine how far 

 this view is correct. 



It is obvious that if we are satisfied with 

 merely stating that it is cheaper to bring wheat 

 from Riga than to grow it in Lincolnshire, the 

 whole question is settled in a moment. But 

 is it so in reality ? Is it really cheaper to have 

 food from abroad ? And, supposing it is, are 

 we not yet bound to analyse that compound 

 result which we call price, rather than to accept 

 it as a supreme and blind ruler of our actions ? 



We know, for instance, how French agricul- 

 ture is burdened by taxation. And yet, if we 

 compare the prices of articles of food in France, 

 which herself grows most of them, with the 



