cative of the new truth which is
dawning on the world, the conviction that just as an individual can
only fully realize his personality in a society of other individuals,
that is, a nation, so nations cannot rise to the full stature of
nationalism save in a society of nations. For only thus can
nationality, either in its economic or its spiritual side, make full
use of its special opportunities for the development of a distinctive
national character. The supreme challenge is, therefore, not to the
continental European nations, not even to Britain, but to America. For
her alone the choice has the full quality of moral freedom. For she
alone is able to refuse. Other great western nations might seek to
stand alone for economic life and for defence. They could not long
succeed; they are too deeply implicated in one another's destinies.
Even Britain with her vast extra-European territories could not hope to
disentangle herself from the affairs of her near neighbors. America
could do this, at any rate for some considerable time to come. True she
has economic committals in Europe. She has loaned European governments
and peoples some ten milliards of money. She is still lending her
credit to support the large surplus supplies of foods and other goods
she is selling Europe. If this business is to continue, it will
implicate her even closer in European affairs. Europe in its present
case can hardly be presented as a safe business proposition. If America
proceeds along this path, it will be because she looks beyond the
immediate risks to the wider future of a safer and more prosperous
world. She could now draw out; she could cut the present economic
losses of her European loans; she could divert her attention from the
European markets to the development of the American continent as the
principal area for the disposal of her surplus goods and energies.

It is open to her to take this course. Prudence may seem to dictate it.
The reckless mismanagement of European governments, the wild
unsettlement of peoples, the badness of the peace, are, indeed, strong
arguments for America cleaving to her old ways.

Europe has no rightful claim upon America, either for the urgent work
of economic rescue, or for participation in the permanent project of a
society of nations. America not only has the right to refuse; it is
probably to her immediate interest to refuse. But, at the risk of
misinterpretation, as an officious outsider, I will venture