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of the imagination of these safe and sane gentlemen of the old
school fertilised with the ancient conceptions of imperialistic
diplomacy and national prestige？ In effect it is all drawn to the
scale and pattern already made notorious by the Balkan states。 It
should also be safe to presume that the place and value of these
newly emerging nations in the comity of peoples under the
prospective r間ime of provisional peace will be something not
notably different from what the Balkan states have habitually
placed on view； which may be deprecated by many well…meaning
persons； but which is scarcely to be undone by well…wishing。 The
chances of war and politics have thrown the fortunes of these
projected new nations into the hands of these politic gentlemen
of the old school； and by force of inveterate habit these very
practical persons are unable to conceive that anything else than
a Balkan state is fit to take the place of that imperial rule
that has now fallen into decay。 So Balkan…state national
establishments appear to be the best there is in prospect in the
new world of safe democracy。
So true is this； that even in those instances； such as the
Finns and other fragments of the Russian imperial dominions；
where a newly emerging nation has set out to go on its way
without taking pains to safeguard the grievances of the old
order； even in these instances that should seem to concern no
one but themselves； the gentlemen of the old school who guard the
political institutions of the old order in the world at large
find it impossible to keep their Wands off and to let these
adventurous pilgrims of hope go about their own business in their
own way。 Self…determination proves to be insufferable if it
partakes of the new order rather than of the old； at least so
long as the safe and sane gentlemen of the old school can hinder
it by any means at their command。 It is felt that the vested
interests which underlie the gentlemen of the old school would
not be sufficiently secure in the keeping of these unshorn and
unshaven pilgrims of hope； and the doubt may be well taken。 So
that； within the intellectual horizon of the practical statesmen；
the only safe； sane； and profitable manner of national
establishment and national policy for these newcomers is
something after the familiar fashion of the Balkan states； and it
may also be admitted quite broadly that these newly arriving
peoples commonly are content to seek their national fortunes
along precisely these Balkan state lines； although the Finns and
their like are perhaps to be counted as an unruly exception to
the rule。
These Balkan states； whose spirit； aims； and ways are so
admirable in the eyes of the gentlemanly keepers of the old
political and economic order； are simply a case of imperialism in
the raw。 They are all and several still in the pickpocket stage
of dynastic state…making； comparable with the state of Prussia
before Frederick the Great Pickpocket came to the throne。 And
now； with much sage counsel from the safe and sane statesmen of
the status quo ante。 Czechs。 Slovaks。 Slovenes； Ruthenians；
Ukrainians； Croats； Poles and Polaks are breathlessly elbowing
their way into line with these minuscular Michiavellians。 Quite
unchastened by their age…long experience in adversity they are
all alike clamoring for national establishments stocked up with
all the time…tried contrivances for discomfort and defeat。 With
one hand they are making frantic gestures of distress for an
〃outlet to the sea〃 by means of which to escape insufferable
obstruction of their overseas trade by their nationally minded
neighbors； while with the other hand they are feverishly at work
to contrive a customs frontier of their own； together with other
standard devices for obstructing their neighbors' trade and their
own； so soon as they shall have any trade to obstruct。 Such is
the force of habit and tradition。 In other words； these peoples
are aiming to become self…determining nations in good standing。
And all the while it is plain to all men that a national
〃outlet to the sea〃 has no meaning in time of pence and in the
absence of national governments working at cross…purposes。 Which
comes near to saying that the sole material object of these new
projects in nation…making is to work at cross…purposes with their
neighbors across the new…found national frontiers。 So also it is
plain that this mutual working at cross…purposes between the
nations hinders the keeping of the peace； even when it is all
mitigated with all the approved apparatus of diplomatic
make…believe； compromise； and intrigue。 Just as it is plain that
the peace is not to be kept by use of armaments； but all the
while national armaments are also included as an indispensable
adjunct of national life； in all the projects of these new
nations of the Balkan pattern。 The right to carry arms is an
inalienable right of national self…determination and an
indispensable means of self…help； as understood by these
nation…makers of the old school。 So also it is plain that
national pretensions in the field of foreign trade and
investment； and all the diversified expedients for furthering and
protecting the profitable enterprise of the vested interests in
foreign parts； run consistently at cross…purposes with the
keeping of the peace。
And all the while the rule of Live and Let Live； as it works
out within the framework of the new industrial order； will not
tolerate these things。 But the rule of Live and Let Live； which
embodies the world's hope of peace on earth and a practicable
modicum of good will among men； is not of the essence of that
time…worn statesmanship which is now busily making the world safe
for the vested interests。 Neglect and disallowance of those
things that make for embroilment does not enter into the counsels
of the nation…makers or of those stupendous figures of veiled
statecraft that now move in the background and are shaping the
destinies of these and other nations with a view to the status
quo ante。
All these peoples that now hope to be nations have long been
nationalities。 A nation is an organisation for collective offence
and defence； in peace and war； essentially based on hate and
fear of other nations； a nationality is a cultural group； bound
together by home…bred affinities of language； tradition； use and
wont； and commonly also by a supposed community race；
essentially based on sympathies and sentiments of
self…complacency within itself。 The Welsh and the Scotch are
nationalities； more or less well defined； although they are not
nations in the ordinary meaning of the word； so also are the
Irish； with a difference； and such others as the Finns and the
Armenians。 The American republic is a nation； but not a
nationality in any full measure。 The Welsh and the Scotch have
learned the wisdom of Live and Let Live； within the peace of the
Empire； and they are not moving to break bounds and set up a
national integrity after the Balkan pattern。
The case of the Irish is peculiar； at least so they say。