106 THE GREAT WAR 



comfort. Notwithstanding your large acreage under 

 grass, we produce much more milk and butter than you 

 do, and are able to sell them more cheaply. We regard the 

 cow as the machine for turning straw into manure. It 

 is the knowledge that we protect our agriculturist that 

 causes us to maintain our system of farming. Your in- 

 dustrial classes eat very few vegetables and dairy pro- 

 duce, while nearly every family in France is amply 

 supplied with them at such moderate prices as more 

 than makes up for any extra cost if there be any in 

 bread. Our system enables us to keep a population of 

 about 5 million families on the land, who number nearly 

 half the population. These people are living far more 

 happy and independent lives than any similar class in 

 your country. They produce their own food and live 

 far more cheaply in most ways than an equal number 

 of English. ... If we were blockaded by land and sea 

 we should have nothing to fear for our food supply. 

 What would your position be if a combination of mari- 

 time Powers cut off your food supplies ? Before three 

 months had passed you would be obliged to capitulate. 

 You might then discover that your investments were not 

 really true national wealth. The contrast between our 

 defensive system and yours is only too evident. Even 

 if we did not prefer our own economic system for other 

 reasons, we should adopt it for such reasons as these, 

 etc." 



