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national integrity after the Balkan pattern。
The case of the Irish is peculiar； at least so they say。
They； that is to say the Irish by sentiment rather than by
domicile； the Irish people as contrasted with the vested
interests of Ulster； of the landlords； of the Church； and of the
bureaucracy；these Irish have long been a nationality and are now
mobilising all their force to set up a Balkan state； autonomous
and defensible； within the formal bounds of the Empire or
without。 Their case is peculiar and instructive。 It throws a
light on the margin of tolerance； of what the traffic will bear；
beyond which an increased pressure on a subject population will
bring no added profit to the vested interests for whose benefit
the pressure is brought to bear。 It is a case of the Common Man
hard ridden in due legal form by the vested interests of the
Island； and of the neighboring island； which are duly backed by
an alien and biased bureaucracy aided and abetted by the priestly
pickpockets of the poor。 So caught in this way between the devil
and the deep sea； it is small wonder if they have chosen in the
end to follow counsels of desperation and are moving to throw
their lot into the deep sea of national self…help and
international intrigue。 They have reached the point where they
have ceased to say： 〃It might have been worse。〃 The case of the
Finns； Jews； and Armenians is not greatly different in general
effect。
It is easy to fall into a state of perturbation about the
evil case of the submerged； exploited； and oppressed minor
nationalities； and it is not unusual to jump to the conclusion
that national self…determination will surely mend their evil
case。 National self…determination and national integrity are
words to conjure with； and there is no denying that very
substantial results have been known to follow from such
conjuring。 But self…determination is not a sovereign remedy；
particularly not as regards the material conditions of life for
the common man； for that somewhat more than nine…tenths of the
population who always finally have to bear the cost of any
national establishment。 It has been tried； and the point is left
in doubt。 So the case of Belgium or of Serbia during the past
four years has been scarcely less evil than that of the Armenians
or the Poles。 Belgium and Serbia were nations； in due form； very
much after the pattern aimed at in the new projected nations
already spoken of； whereas the Armenians and the Poles have been
subject minor nationalities。 Belgium。 Serbia； and Poland have
been subject to the ravages of an imperial power which claims
rank as a civilised people； whereas the Armenians have been
manhandled by the Turks。 So； again； the Irish are a subject minor
nationality； whereas the Roumanians are a nation in due form。 In
fact the Roumanians are just such a balkan state as the Irish
aspire to become。 But no doubt the common man is appreciably
worse off in his material circumstances in Roumania than in
Ireland。 Japan； too； is not only a self…determining nation with a
full charge of national integrity； but it is a Great Power； yet
the common man the somewhat more than nine…tenths of the
population is doubtless worse off in point of hard usage and
privation in Japan than in Ireland。
In further illustration of this doubt and perplexity with
regard to the material value of national self…determination； the
case of the three Scandinavian countries may be worth citing。
They are all and several self…determining nations； in that
Pickwickian sense in which any country which is not a Great Power
may be self…determining in the twentieth century。 But they differ
in size； population； wealth； power； and political consequence。 In
these respects the sequence runs： Sweden； Denmark。 Norway； the
latter being the smallest； poorest； least self…determining； and
in point of self…determining nationalism altogether the most
spectacularly foolish of the lot。 But so far as concerns the
material conditions of life for the common man； they are
unmistakably the most favorable； or the most nearly tolerable； in
Norway； and the least so in Sweden。 The upshot of evidence from
these； and from other instances that might be cited； is to leave
the point in doubt。 It is not evident that the common man has
anything to gain by national self…determination； so far as
regards his material conditions of life； nor does it appear； on
the evidence of these instances； that he has much to lose by that
means。
These Scandinavians differ from the Balkan states in that
they perforce have no imperialistic ambitions。 There may of
course be a question on this head so far as concerns the frame of
mind of the royal establishment in the greater one of the
Scandinavian kingdoms； there is not much that is worth saying
about that matter； and the less that is said； the less annoyance。
It is a matter of no significance； anyway。 The Scandinavians are
in effect not imperialistic； perforce。 Which means that in their
international relations they formally adhere to the rule of Live
and Let Live。 Not so in their domestic policy； however。 They have
all endowed themselves with all the encumbrances of national
pretensions and discrimination which their circumstances will
admit。 Apart from a court and church which foot up to nothing
more comfortable than a gratuitous bill of expense； they are also
content to carry the burden of a national armament； a protective
tariff； a national consular service； and a diplomatic service
which takes care of a moderately burdensome series of treaty
agreements governing the trade relations of the Scandinavian
business community； all designed for the benefit of the vested
interests and the kept classes of the nation； and all at the cost
of the common man。
The case of these relatively free； relatively unassuming； and
relatively equitable national establishments is also instructive。
They come as near the rule of Live and Let Live as any national
establishment well can and still remain a national establishment
actuated by notions of competitive self…help。 But all the while
the national administration runs along； with nothing better to
show to any impartial scrutiny than a considerable fiscal burden
and a moderate volume of hindrance to the country's industry；
together with some incidental benefit to the vested interests and
the kept classes at the cost of the underlying community。 These
Scandinavians occupy a peculiar position in the industrial world。
They are each and several too small to make up anything like a
self…contained industrial community； even under the most
unreserved pressure of national exclusiveness。 Their industries
necessarily are part and parcel of the industrial system at
large； with which they are bound in relations of give and take at
every point。 Yet they are content to carry a customs tariff of
fairly grotesque dimensions and a national consular service of
more grotesque dimensions still。 This situation is heightened by
their relatively sterile soil； their somewhat special and narrow
range of natu