The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 20, 1924, Page 8

“Pacifist” | By L. TROTSKY. HE advent of America into the field of active world imperialism is not of a very recent date. If we should attempt to trace events chron- ologically, we might say that the de- cisive change of foreign policy of the United States coincides approximately with the close of the XIX and the dawn of the XX century. The Span- ish-American war took place in 1898. In that war America seized Cuba thus securing for herself the key to Panama and, consequently, an open- ing into the Pacific, China and the continent of Asia. In 1900, in the last year of the 19th century, the ex- ports of manufactured products from the United States, for the first time in history, exceeded the imports, This fact alone placed America, statistic- ally speaking, among the nations ac- tive in world politics. In 1901 or 1902 America is already securing for her- self the province of Panama-Colum- bia. America has had a policy of her own in such matters. This policy she has carried out on the Hawaiian is- lands, on the islands of Samoa, I be- lieve, and at any rate in Panama. She is now carrying out the same policy in Mexico. When a democratic re- public wants to grab and subjugate foreign territory or enforce a humili- ating treaty upon another nation, she first stirs up a little revolution among the nations and then appears on the doing in Europe. He has come from America to soothe and pacify Europe which was ruined by a war conducted with the help of this same America. In such a manner America seized Panama in 1902, set out to dig the canal, first opened the canal for navi- gation in 1914, and in 1920 the completed Panama Canal literally opens a new and probably the great- est chapter in the history of the Unit- ed States and of the entire world. The United States has radically changed the map of a portion of the globe in the interests and for the benefit of American imperialism. The industry of the United States is con- centrated, as you know, in the East. The West is primarily agricultural. The trade and industry of the United States is gravitating towards China with her 400 million population, with her inexhaustable, immeasurable wealth. Thru the Panama Canal Ameri- can industry has opened for itself a wa- terway from East to West thus shorten- ing it several thousand miles. These dates—1898, 1900, 1914 and 1920— mark America’s determined appear- ance upon the highway of world rob- bery, i.e. of world imperialism. The imperialist war was the most important milestone on this road. As we all remember, the United States entered the war at its very end. For three years the United States kept out of war. Moreover, two months before America entered the war Wil- son had declared that America’s par- ticipation in the bloodbath of Europe’s madmen was out of the question. Up to a certain moment the United States was content to coin dollars out of the blood of Europe’s “madmen.” When it appeared, however, that the war may end in favor of Germany, Ameri- ica’s most dangerous potential compe- titor on the world market, the United States joined the allies. This event decided the outcome of the struggle. Killing a Competitor for Love of Peace. The remarkable point, however, is this: America has been greedily feeding the war with her industry, has selfishly entered the war for the pur- pose of destroying a menacing compe- titor, and yet she has managed to pre- serve her pacifist reputation. This is one of the most interesting paradoxes, one of the most curious jokes of his- tory—jokes which are far from arous- ing our merriment. Unlike the imper- ialist swindlers of the old world, Am- erica has had the possibility of hiding her cruel, rapacious and thievish im- perialism under the cloak of pacifism due to a special environment. In the imperialist game of the old world the motives are apparent on the surface, But in America things are different.|world arena at a time when the entire !lican party came into power. There (Continued on next page.) ; 4 ; : z Lo PEN SEE OE peg Oe ee aT CT ee en ect RONEN nee! TBE Pik MLN 9 scene as a pacifier and benefactress. That is what General Dawes is now Due to the special conditions of Am- erica’s development this very pacifist mask has become so well attached to her imperialist physiognomy that it is impossible to tear it off. This is not an incident. Both geog- raphy and history have contributed to this state of affairs. The United States has had no need for a large standing army. Why? Well, just try to reach them. On the right side there is the Atlantic, on the left the’ Paci- fic (even their ocean is pacifist)—how then can you get at them? ‘ Peculiar Geographic Position of U. S. England is an island and this is the most fundamental cause of her pe- culiar position and at the same time one of her most important advantages. The United States also represents a gigntic island in relation to the group of continents of the old world, Eng- her fleet. But if you once break thru the line of defense of the English fleet, the British islands remain unprotect- ed, and you can run thru thig»narrow strip of land with the sword of your cavalry. But try to run thru America in this fashion! It is an island which has at the same time all the advantages of Russia—her gigantic expanse. Even without a fleet America would be al- most invulnerable to an attack from Europe or Japan due to her immense distances. Here is the fundamental geographic cause for America’s pa- cifist mask which has become identi- cal with her true physiognomy. Unlike Europe, unlike all other na- ‘tions, America failed to establish a large standing army. And when dur- ing the late war she did create a strong army naturally, she was forced to do so. Who forced her to it? Why, of course, those barbarians, the Ger- man imperialists and the Kaiser, who were not brot up in the benevolent spirit of the Presbyterian church. Our Peculiar History. Another cause of America’s pacifist piety must be sought in history. The United States has appeared on the and is protecting herself by means of » : world has already been divided up and enslaved. The imperialist ad- vances of the United States are thus being carried out under the slogans of “freedom of the seas,” “open doors,” ete. Therefore, whenever America carries out an act of open militaristic robbery, the people of the United States and to some extent of the rest of the world, are made to be- lieve that the responsibility for such an act falls upon the citizens of other countries, but not upon America. Wilson was the one who helped to complete the destruction of Germany and then, as you remember, he ap- peared in Europe, armed with his 14 points in which he promised peace and proseprity to all, self-determina- tion to small nations, punishment for the criminal Kaiser, compensation to the virtuous nations, etc. Such was | MODERN “CHINESE SHADOWS” the Wilsonian Gospel! ber it still. geoisie of Europe and to considerable extent also the workers, i. e. the men- sheyist workers of Europe, lived for months and months by that Wilsonian We all remem- And all the petty bour- Gospel. This provincial professor, called by American capitalism to serve as its spokesman, deeply im- mersed in blood—since he incited con- tinuation of,the European slaughter— later appeared in Europe as the apos- tle of pacifism. And all the people said: Wilson will give us peace, Wil- son will restore Europe. : Wilson, however, did not succeed in reaching that goal for the realization of which General Dawes. has later been sent to Europe accompanied by a host of bankers. Wilson had left Europe with a feeling of disgust. He returned home to America. And pa- cifist social-democrats all over the world. came out with their lamenta- tions and bewailings over the mad- ness. of the European bourgeoisie which did not want to come to an understanding with Wilson and thus failed to achieve peace and normalcy in Buropean affairs. Wilson was displaced. The repub- mperialism of the United States ensued a period of prosperity based almost exclusively upon the domestic market, i. e. due to a temporary state of equilibrium between industry and agriculture, between East and West. This period of prosperity was of short duration. It lasted only two years. Then, since last year this period of prosperity came to a halt and became unstable—and in the spring of this year there could be noticed sure symptoms of an industrial crisis fol- lowing in the footsteps of a most se- vere agrarian crisis which hit hard the agricultural parts of the United States. And, as it always happens in such cases, this crisis gave a new impetus to American imperialism as a result of which financial capital of the United States has sent its repre- sentatives to Europe in order to finish the business which was begun with the imperialist war and was pursued thru the peace treaty at Versailles, i. e. the business of the economic subjugation and enslavement of Eu- rope. A Plan to Put Europe on Rations. What does American capital seek, what is it aiming at? It seeks, we are told, to reestablish the European markets for the Europeans to enable Europe to pay her debts. But how, by what means and to what extent? American capital does not want to create a competitor for itself out of Europe. American capital will not al- low England, still less Germany or France, especially Germany, to re- gain their old world markets. It needs the entire world for itself, since American capital has reached the stage of self-export, i. e. Ameri- can capital is now exporting both products and capital. American capi- tal is seeking world domination and wants to establish an American im- perialist monarchy on our planet. But what about Europe? We are told that American capital wants to pacify Europe. But how? Under its own hegemony. And what does it mean? It means that American capi- tal will allow Burope to recuperate provided it does so within certain prearranged limitations, i. e. Ameri- can capital will allot Europe only cer- tain limited pertions of the world market. American capital is already giving orders, dictating to European diplomats. It is preparing also to dic- tate to European banks and trusts, to the bourgeoisie of Europe as a whole. It is moving in that direction. American capital will allot markets, will regulate the activity of the Eu- ropean financiers and industrialists. If we should clearly and plainly answer the question’ as to what Am- erican capital wants with Europe, we shall have to say that it wants to put capitalist Europe on rations. It means to dictate to Europe the kind of products and how many pounds, litres and kilograms of such products she has a right to buy and sell. Already in the theses to the Third Congress of the Comintern we stated that Europe was being Balkanized. Now this comparison is even more ap- parent. The governments of the Bal- kan peninsula have always had their protectors: Tzarist Russia or Austria- Hungary. Their entire political life, such as a change of ruling parties and even a change in dynasty (in Serbia) was centered around and was subject to the will of their powerful protec- tors. Now Balkanized Europe is be- ing reduced to a similar position in relation to the United States and partly Great Britain. In the measure in which the an- tagonisms among the European gov- ernments will become more acute, they will be found knocking at the doors of Washington and London. The final say in such matters as a change in itical parties and gov- ernments will belong to American capital which will dictate to Europe how much she should eat and drink. Now, we all know from our own ex- perience that a ration does not always” taste sweet, especially when this strictly regulated American ration will : be offered not only to the common people of Europe, but also to its rul- &e hie a