222 The Intellectual Revolution 



political and social action. For the significance 

 of a League of Peace lies in the fact that it gives 

 official recognition to the realization on the part 

 of the nations that force, used for aggression, has 

 become futile to advance the welfare, economic, 

 social or moral, of their people. 



The realization of the economic futility of force 

 is likely to have its most practical effect in modify- 

 ing the foreign policies of nations. The Franco- 

 Prussian War of 1870 with the huge indemnity 

 extorted by the victors from the vanquished, 

 undoubtedly led to the belief by superficial 

 observers that war could be made to pay, but this 

 motive is probably not now important as a direct 

 cause of war. Men will not fight until the moral 

 stuff of mankind is damaged. But the strife and 

 friction caused by false ideas of the effectiveness of 

 force to promote national welfare are undoubtedly 

 contributing causes to the atmosphere of suspicion, 

 fear, and distrust, which are the foundations of 

 international anarchy and the armed peace. 



The recognition of the futility of force for pro- 

 moting national advantage may also be expected 

 to contribute to the movement for the freedom 

 of the seas, including the establishment of the 

 immunity of private property at sea and the 

 substitution of international control of the high- 

 ways of the nations for control by the greatest 

 naval power. And with this movement toward 

 greater freedom of trade and international co- 



