The Strategic Center of Permanent Peace

THE STRATEGIC CENTER OF PERMANENT PEACE.

1. The control or protection of the Mediterranean is the core of the primary objective of all the powers. It is critical to the British empire, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy and the Balkan States. Whoever controls the Mediterranean controls the Far East and the alliances of Japan and China.

The Mediterranean is the great trade route of the world. It controls the trade of the Mediterranean basin, the east coast of Africa, India, Persia, China and the Pacific Islands. It controls the economic life of Russia and the Mediterranean states. It is the "spinal cord" of the British empire.

2. The world has warred for the Mediterranean for thousands of years, and for the same reason. It is the "royal road" of ancient and medieval times. Ambitious world conquerors have turned instinctively to it. Darius, Xerxes, Alexander the Great, Pompey, Aurelian, the Ottomans, the Italian cities, Peter the Great, Napoleon, Russia, France, England and Germany have fought for it as the foundation of empire, for their economic life.

For a hundred years Rrussia, England, France and now Germany have struggled for the Dardanelles, the Suez Canal and Mesopotamia, as well as the dependent countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean.

The trade of the Suez Canal alone is $1,600,000,000 annually. The trade of the Mediterranean each year amounts to $2,400,000,000. The Tigris-Euphrates territory and Persia are rich in oil, while Asia Minor and Mesopotamia contain great possibilities of development.

3. The control of the Mediterranean means the control of necessary raw materials, as well as the trade and commerce of Europe. It is the keystone of European real-politik. Industrial nations can hardly live without free access to this great waterway; while the Balkan States, Italy, Greece, Austria-Hungary and Russia are absolutely dependent upon it. The Bagdad Railway was a drive at the heart of the British empire and for her economic supremacy as well, and the objective of Germany was the objective of ancient Rome in the time of Hadrian when Roman arms were carried from the Pillars of Hercules to Persia.

4. The Allies have it in their power to use the Mediterranean as an exclusive possession, or to internationalize it and to erect a permanent monument to peace: a monument that would end the struggle that has been going on for two thousand years for its exclusive possession.

5. The suggestion is to make the Mediterranean basin a world empire, the trade routes being guarded by an international commission and opened to all nations that observe the rules laid down. The commission should complete the Bagdad Railway, throw open the ports of Constantinople, Smyrna, Salonica, etc.; be the protector of the Adriatic, Dardanelles, Black Sea, Mesopotamia and the Bagdad Railway, and if possible of the dependent states upon the Mediterranean.

The little states within the Mediterranean would be disarmed and be freed from individual armies. The Mediterranean would be used by the navies of the world under neutral convoy. The Balkan States would be protected in their integrity, and all of the powers would be allowed free ingress and egress to the Suez Canal, Bagdad Railway, Dardanelles and Straits of Gibraltar.

6. Such a commission, possessed of a small naval and military force, could guard the strategic points and waterways; could protect the ports and harbors, the Bagdad Railway, the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf. It could close these gateways to any hostile power, and would hold the key to the question of raw materials; for the big essentials of modern industry, outside of mineral resources, come from the Far East and Africa.

Such neutralization would make disarmament relatively easy. It would free England from the necessity of being a two power nation, and relieve the fears of all the Mediterranean states. This may become a matter of great importance to America, with her expanding foreign trade.

7. Such a commission, with a big vision of internationalization, could bring the Mediterranean territory back to its ancient position as a center of the world. Constantinople would become a great cosmopolitan capital. Resources would be developed. Mesopotamia might flower again as it did in the days of Herodotus. The Balkan question could be settled, and these states given a chance to develop. Italy could be freed from its crushing load of militarism. So could Greece. This whole territory could be freed from exclusive economic exploitation, and the dependent states protected under international authority. Palestine, Syria and Armenia would be guaranteed autonomy. Persia could be freed. Complete Self-determination for 110,000,000 people could be guaranteed by this means.

8. Great civilizations might come into being under such protection and assistance. International loans might be made and development work carried through; while were it possible to introduce free trade within this territory, these various states might develop along the lines for which they have the greatest aptitude and from which they have been diverted by the intrigues and ambitions of the greater powers.

9. The Mediterranean contains potential seeds of future wars. It is the key to peace. Within its borders a world empire might be erected which would be an enduring monument to peace and to a wonderful civilization as well.