The World in Chains (WWI Centenary Series)

By John Mavrogordato

This early work by John Mavrogordato was originally published in 1917 and we are now republishing it as part of our WWI Centenary Series. 'The World in Chains' is an essay divided up into short pieces about the philosophy of war and its relation to business interests. This work contains the authors thoughts on subjects such as eugenics, patriotism, trade profit and national loss, and other aspects of wartime considerations. This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world's bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history. Each publication also includes brand new introductory essays and a timeline to help the reader place the work in its historical context.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Last Post Press
• Release date: Mar 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473367425

Book preview

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THE WORLD IN CHAINS

But should we stay to speak, noontide would come,

And thwart Silenus find his goats undrawn,

And grudge to sing those wise and lovely songs

Of Fate, and Chance, and God, and Chaos old,

And Love, and the Chained Titan’s woeful doom,

And how he shall be loosed, and make the earth

One brotherhood....

SOME ASPECTS OF WAR AND TRADE

BY

JOHN MAVROGORDATO M.A.

Copyright © 2016 Read Books Ltd.

This book is copyright and may not be

reproduced or copied in any way without

the express permission of the publisher in writing

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Contents

Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series

A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe

To the Poet Before Battle

CHAPTER I

§1 The Massacre of Colleagues

§2 The Widening Sphere of Morality

§3 The Receding God

§ 4 The Philosopher looks at Society

§ 5 Homo Homini Lupus

§ 6 Tribe against Tribe

§ 7 The City State

§ 8 The Nations of Europe ferae naturae

§ 9 The Convenience of Diplomacy

§ 10 A Note on Democracy

§ 11 Diplomacy not bad in itself

§ 12 Manners no Substitute for Morals

§ 13 War a Moral Anachronism

CHAPTER II

§ 1 The Armament Ring

§ 2 Eugenics?

§ 3 Patriotism

§ 4 The Moral Test

§ 5 Trade

§ 6 Trade in Time of Peace

§ 7 Duties of Commerce to the State

§ 8 Restricted Sphere of Government corresponding to Restricted Sphere of Morality

CHAPTER III

§ 1 Trade during the War

§ 2 Trade lives on Increasing Demand

§ 3 War a form of Destruction

§ 4 War stands to benefit Neutral as well as Belligerent Nations but not to the same extent

§ 5 The greater the Capital, the greater the War Profit?

§ 6 The Blessings of Invasion

§ 7 The Luxury Trades don’t do so badly

§ 8 Trade Profits in war not shared by the Nation but confined to Employers

§ 9 Trade Profit and National Loss

CHAPTER IV

§ 1 Dialectics round the Death-bed

§ 2 German Responsibility for the War

§ 3 The Value of German Culture

§ 4 The Manufacture of Hatred

§ 5 Imperialism the Enemy

§ 6 Possible Objects of War

§ 7 Physical Force in a Moral World

§ 8 Imperialism and Capitalism through War and Trade the Enemies: Socialism to the Rescue

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER III.

SOME TYPICAL WAR PROFITS

I. The Manchester Guardian, January 3, 1916:

2. The Manchester Guardian, March 3, 1916:

3. Pall Mall Gazette, September 24, 1915:

4. The Manchester Guardian, Feb. 28, 1916:

5. The Times, May 19, 1916:

6. The New Witness:

7. The New Statesman, March 25, 1916:

8. The New Statesman, May 27, 1916:

9. The New Statesman, June 24, 1916:

10. The New Witness, June 15, 1916:

11. The New Witness, June 15, 1916:

12. The Manchester Guardian, June 19, 1916:

13. The New Witness, June 22, 1916:

14. The Westminster Gazette, July 15, 1916:

15. The New Statesman, July 1, 1916:

16. Pall Mall Gazette, January 31, 1916:

17. The Daily News, August 16, 1915:

18. Pall Mall Gazette, November 10, 1916:

19. Pall Mall Gazette:

20. The Times, July 5, 1916:

21. The Westminster Gazette, Aug. 28, 1916:

FOOTNOTES:

Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series

The First World War was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. More than nine million combatants were killed, a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents’ technological and industrial sophistication – and tactical stalemate. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the world’s great economic powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. These alliances were both reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel were mobilised.

The war was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by a Yugoslav nationalist, Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, June 28th 1914. This set off a diplomatic crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia, and international alliances were invoked. Within weeks, the major powers were at war and the conflict soon spread around the world. By the end of the war, four major imperial powers; the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires—ceased to exist. The map of Europe was redrawn, with several independent nations restored or created. On peace, the League of Nations formed with the aim of preventing any repetition of such an appalling conflict, encouraging cooperation and communication between the newly autonomous nation states. This laudatory pursuit failed spectacularly with the advent of the Second World War however, with new European nationalism and the rise of fascism paving the way for the next global crisis.

This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world’s bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history.

Amelia Carruthers

A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe