ECONOMIC CAUSES OF WAR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 10

ECONOMIC CAUSES OF WAR

, •——*—— VIEWS OF PROFESSOR BELSHAW “GERMAN POLICY BOUND TO LEAD TO CONFLICT” [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, September 23. Economic causes of war. were discussed by Professor H. Belshaw, Professor of Economics at Auckland University College, in an addt-ess to the Auckland-branch of the League of Nations Union. Professor Belshaw said that he did not suggest that economic causes were the only predominating or direct causes of war. but they constituted a fundamental that was. usually so far davanced that no measure of courage or fine statesmanship could ultimately prevent war. ■ _ In summarising international conflicts of the last four centuries. Pro-

lessor Belshaw referred to the change from imperialism to capitalism and territorial expansion. He said that economic motives were often interwoven with political interest- in domestic and international fields. Further they had resulted in an imperative expansive need for industrial development thu« creating rivalries that led to war Similar rivalries provided a background for the present international difficulties. The German policy on (-Chechoslovakia was to increase the possible control over large militarist forces and rich agricultural lands, to gam economic and political domination in surrounding countries/ and to up T /^ easi^r . way to attack other lands. If the crisis were now averted trerman policy was .bound to to war in the future. Much more wls involved than the wish to free the Sudeten Germans.

In all cases of international troubles to-day we are given the excuse that S, re intended to save the world c 9<W munis m,” said Professor Belshaw. Success for the one will necessitate a safeguard for the other against Fascism as long as countries 2 ny size and military importance are under Fascist forms of Government It ly d 9hbtful whether the posof av . oldin * war could be reSa “RpL as *vS ns - of any significance. Before there is any hope of peace based on collective security. the deino-

cratic nations will have to re-examine their own economic and political philo®2nmes. added Professor Belshaw. They will have to believe in the ■ueague of Nations and collective security sufficiently to exert such an influence on their Governments that they dare not betray the League in the future.”