152 The Special Sociological Errors 



ment. Since the Treaty of Paris in 1783, for 

 example, the United States of America has had no 

 fear of being conquered by its neighbours. During 

 these years, however, it would seem that some 

 progress has been made. The population has 

 increased from four millions to more than one 

 hundred millions; in agriculture, in industry, 

 commerce, technical invention, and in science, 

 America may make some claim to be considered 

 with the other nations in the front rank of pro- 

 gress. There are even countries in Europe, like 

 Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland, 

 which have not been under the fear of being 

 conquered during the past half-century or more 

 on account of the political situation caused by the 

 rivalry of the Great Powers ; but nevertheless these 

 countries have made great progress. The rural 

 economy of Denmark, for example, is a model 

 for the world, and much superior to that of its 

 bellicose neighbour, Prussia. 



The enormous cost of the British navy was 

 borne because of the fear of German aggression. 

 The huge armaments of Germany were voted be- 

 cause of the fear of conquest by France and Russia. 

 And not only did the fear inspired by these arma- 

 ments lead to an international reign of terror, and, 

 as we have seen, logically and inevitably to war, 

 but, even in times of peace, the "organized insan- 

 ity" of the international armament competition, 

 as Lloyd-George has called it, has constituted a 

 very serious danger to the future of the European 



