controlled
liberation of atomic energy and may be--probably is--traceable to it. It
is in no part due to imperialistic aims or acts on the part of Atlantis.
This fact cannot be stressed too strongly. We never have been and are
not now interested in Empire. It is true that the other nations began as
Atlantean colonies, but no attempt was ever made to hold any one of them
in colonial status against the wish of its electorate. All nations were
and are sister states. We gain or lose together. Atlantis, the parent,
was and is a clearing-house, a co-ordinator of effort, but has never
claimed or sought authority to rule; all decisions being based upon free
debate and free and secret ballot.

"But now! Parties and factions everywhere, even in old Atlantis. Every
nation is torn by internal dissensions and strife. Nor is this all.
Uighar as a nation is insensately jealous of the Islands of the South,
who in turn are jealous of Maya. Maya of Bantu, Bantu of Ekopt, Ekopt of
Norheim, and Norheim of Uighar. A vicious circle, worsened by other
jealousies and hatreds intercrossing everywhere. Each fears that some
other is about to try to seize control of the entire world; and there
seems to be spreading rapidly the utterly baseless belief that Atlantis
itself is about to reduce all other nations of Earth to vassalage.

"This is a bald statement of the present condition of the world as I see
it. Since I can see no other course possible within the constituted
framework of our democratic government, I recommend that we continue our
present activities, such as the international treaties and agreements
upon which we are now at work, intensifying our effort wherever
possible. We will now hear from Statesman Cleto."

"You have outlined the situation clearly enough, Faros. My thought,
however, is that the principal cause of the trouble is the coming into
being of this multiplicity of political parties, particularly those
composed principally of crackpots and extremists. The connection with
atomic energy is clear: since the atomic bomb gives a small group of
people the power to destroy the world, they reason that it thereby
confers upon them the authority to dictate to the world. My
recommendation is merely a special case of yours; that every effort be
made to influence the electorates of Norheim and of Uighar into
supporting an effective international control of atomic energy."

"You have your data tabulated in symbolics?" asked Talmonides,