INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS How the Strong Nations Have Expanded.—One of the chief political questions of the twentieth century is the relation of strong nations to those that are weak or backward. Geographical con ditions, as we have already seen, strengthen some nations and weaken others. Hence such conditions have a profound influence on international relations and so on the ideals which are one of the great est factors in advancing or retarding civilization. History shows that strong nations in invigorating climates almost inevitably expand and dominate the weak ones in less favorable climates. In the past they did this without restraint, but now their expansion is more or less controlled by the concerted action of other nations.
The direction in which strong nations expand depends on geograph ical conditions. As a rule a strong nation gradually expands into adjacent territory that is either sparsely populated or poorly governed. At first the expansion is more or less accidental, or at least is merely the .work of individuals, but later it is guided by definite purposes, which become part of the national ideal. Let us trace the expansion of each of the great powers, so that we may understand both how it has taken place and why.
(1) Great Britain. How Britain Expanded Across the Sea.— The earliest attempt of Britain to expand beyond the limits of the British Isles was directed toward France, but as that country, accord ing to the standards of those early days, was neither sparsely popu lated nor poorly governed, England was baffled. Then Britain turned her attention across the sea. Spain, Portugal, and France, however, the other three main countries on the side of Europe toward the Atlan tic, were also looking for opportunities across the water. Spain and Portugal, in accordance with their geographical positiOn, found their sphere of activity in low latitudes where the mild climate prevented their colonies from growing great. England and France colonized farther north, where the climate is stimulating. The fact that
England is an island, and looks seaward, while France is part of the continent and is more interested in the land than in the sea, helped the English to wrest from the French their possessions across the seas. Thus by far the best part of America became English.
During the early days the English had no idea that some day 1 spandtiens of America. into the great The fact that h of Canada e a arl he nists lived in a highly stimulating climate, however, made such ex pansion inevitable. That same fact also had much to do with the separation of the United. States from England, for energetic people will not tolerate abuses which more apathetic people put up with for 1 centuries.
In India the effect of geographical conditions upon England's ? colonial history was very different from the effect in the United f States. Soon after the discovery of America British merchants went to India to engage in trade and with no purpose of founding a vast li Indian Empire. They found a densely populated country whose habitants lacked energy because of the tropical climate, and who were correspondingly backward in civilization. Accordingly, for their own convenience and safety, the British merchants assumed control of a small area near Calcutta and governed it. At first they merely took space enough for forts within which to shelter their warehouses I . and offices. Then, for greater peace of mind, they spread their power over the towns where the forts were located and in time over surround ing districts. But neighboring Indian states troubled them. Some times the trouble was due to the aggression of the forceful English traders; sometimes to the dishonesty and treachery of the natives. In eithei case the strong people from an invigorating climate con quered the weak tropical people. Thus British rule was spread abroad. The process has continued until England governs over 300, 000,000 people in southern Asia.