FUTURE OF CIVILISATION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17105, 29 March 1921, Page 6

FUTURE OF CIVILISATION.

MB H. G. WELLS'S DECLARATION. (Br C»ble—Prees Association—Copyright.) (United Hervico.) LONDON, March 26. Mr H. G. Wells, in a series of articles, in the "Sunday Times," tackles the problem of salvaging civilisation, which, he contends, is fast tumbling to pieces. No eiforts are ll'ing made, lie gavs, to stave off the disaster. > Mr Wells declares that America and Europo must inevitably approach the task from different angles, and in a different spirit. The idea that America can take a place alongside the European Governments in organising -world peace is a mistaken and unworkable one. The noble, splendid project of world-wide peace'is too much for American participation, and too little for Europe s urgent needs. If Europe wishes <o avoid sinking into anarchy she mu3t no longer think in terms of France, England, and so forth. All other international problems, Mr Wells declares, subordinate themselves to Jtroneport and communications. Therein lies the weakness of t'he heterogeneous British Empire, scattered and entangled among a multitude of possible antagonists, as contrasted with the homogeneous United States. The Empire's political and accnomic oohesion rests upon one thing—the steamship remaining a secure means of world transport, dominant in peacetime and invulnerable in war. Sea power is, however, not the simple thing it used to be. We are now confronted with submarines and aircraft. Britishers must recognise that an AllRed air route is impossible except via Canada. The Empire must rest, no*i upon its strength in warfare, but upon keeping peace within and without its boundaries.