The history of the world would seem to indicate that international
psychology is almost synonymous with international anarchy. For the last
30 or more years, as is well known, a general European War was expected,
predicated, and feared. This was the abnormal psychological condition of
diplomatic and military Europe until the present war caused its
realization. The world appears always to have existed in a pathological
condition of possible, probable, or actual war. The question is, "Shall
the world continue to this old way of international anarchism and
political pathology, or shall it make a supreme effort to shake off this
monstrous incubus of war?"
It is peculiar circumstances that, while anarchism within a nation is
generally detested, anarchism between nations has been palatable so
long. Cannibalism existed for thousands of years, slavery also, yet both
have been practically abandoned, and now there seems to be a chance to
do away the last and greatest enemy of humanity--war. To stop an evil
that has existed so long and whose roots reach back into the beginning
of history will necessarily require colossal effort and great sacrifice.
Such an effort has been successful only once in the history of the
world. That was when the Westphalian peace treaty was signed, in 1648
after the Thirty Years' War.[4] This resulted in abolishing the most
difficult kind of wars--religious wars. If the seventeenth century could
accomplish this greater task, certainly the twentieth century should
take courage and likewise put an end to political wars, the lesser task.
It may not be possible to make war impossible, but this is no reason it
should not be tried. It may be possible, however, to make war most
improbable.