MR. KLEIN DECLARES RIVALRY CAUSED WAR
Mr. Henry Klein, tutor in
the History Department, spoke on the economic rivalry between Germany
and England and its relation to the World War, before about 150
students at the Social Science Club anti-war meeting on Wednesday.
The speaker claimed that
the rivalry between these nations in trade and foreign markets was
responsible for the World War. In making this statement, he disagreed
with Professor Clarkson of the History Department who said, at the last
meeting of the club last Wednesday that the economic interdependence of
Germany and England would have created a political and consequently an
economic alliance between the two nations.
By quoting statistics, Mr.
Klein showed that Germany cut holes in English foreign trade. This
practice resulted in the decline of English trade from 1880. The
tremendous increase in German shipping and manufacturing was directly
responsible for this effect on England. There was also, before 1914,
keen competition between the two nations for foreign markets,
particularly in English colonies, the speaker pointed out.
Mr. Klein concluded his
talk by stating, "Economic rivalry between England and Germany would
lead the two nations to war. I don't know why, but it did."
Dr. Theresa Wolfson, of
the Economics Department, and Dr. Howard Selsam, of the Philosophy
Department, who were previously scheduled to speak, were unable to do
so because of a faculty meeting. Dorothy Sayan, president of the Social
Science club read n letter froth Dr. Selsam, faculty adviser of the
group, in which he said that the money now spent for battleships should
he spent on education.
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May 20, 2004
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