osition it has hitherto occupied in the world, with a dozen new powers
entering upon the scene.... What will be the position of the Empire
then, if it has to depend upon the navy of England alone?"[6]

Even with the addition of the self-governing colonies, the population
of the United Kingdom is increased by less than a third,[7] and the
sixty millions of the six British nations are little more capable of
defending the British Empire than are the forty-five millions of the
United Kingdom. The advantage of far more than doubling the population
back of the British Empire is therefore apparent. As compared with the
United States, Great Britain is growing slowly. Moreover she is in a
permanently perilous situation, lying near the strongest military
powers and unable to recover, once her navy is destroyed. Great
Britain preserves her empire only by alliances which {159} prevent the
forming of a hostile European coalition, and in the future an American
alliance may seem indispensable to the maintenance of the Empire and
even to the safety of Britain. At such time it may appear better to
divide and rule than risk the chance of ruin by carrying the burden
alone.

This problem of defence is not one of valour but of economic resources
and geographical position. The men of Britain are as courageous to-day
as were their forefathers, but just as the brave Hollanders could not
maintain supremacy on the sea because with their small numbers they
were forced to make front against the French, so the English are now
compelled to face an increasingly difficult international situation.
In war, bulk, territory and weight of numbers count, and how these
factors will affect the relation between Great Britain (even with her
colonies) and other strong powers a half-century hence is a serious
question. There is always the unpleasant possibility that a failure of
the clever diplomacy by which Great Britain has hitherto divided her
enemies will some day incite an attack from an overwhelming coalition
of land-hungry powers.

To American imperialists an invitation to share in the profits,
prestige and cost of maintenance of the British Empire might prove an
overwhelming temptation. America would become an imperialistic people
by adoption. Without having laboured and fought we should overnight
enter upon a joint control of the greatest imperium the world has seen.
Together with Britain it would be ours to enjoy, and in the common
possessi