Interesting Comparative Figures by Mr. Kirby Page The total cost of the World War was 187 billion dollars gold, or more than 500 billion Shanghai dollars at the present rate of exchange. This amount staggers the imagination, said Mr. Kirby Page, editor of the "World To-morrow," in an address before the Labour Forum on February 28 at the Shanghai A. Mr, Page has just arrived in Shanghai from, India and the Philippines on a world tour.
"With its equivalent," Mr. Page continued, "a hospital costing Shanghai $150,000 could be erected in every one of the three million villages and towns of the entire earth. The interest sum at 4 por: cent. enough to pay an annual salary of Shanghai $1,000 to six: teachers in every village on the globe. The mere interest on the total cost of the war would be sufficient to relieve the worst miseries of millions of human beings.
"War causes immeasurable economic loss. Yet, by a strange Paradex, war itself is caused primarily by the struggle for economic gain, The World War was the outcome of the rivalry. of the various nations for control of the earth's resources. Industrial nations must import huge quantities of raw materials—coal, iron, oil, timber, food, ete. They must sell mai ufeetured goods to customers in other lands. They seek profitable investments in other countries. This combination creates bitter competition between nations and leads to war.
"Moreover, it has frequently led to exploitation and injustice. Too often the stronger powers have taken advantage of the helplessness of weaker peoples. The vapi growth of nationalism in all parts of the earth means that the old system of imperialism can be perpetrated only by measures of extreme repression, So the peace of the world is threatened not only by' the economic rivalry between the great powers but also by the increasing determination of weaker people to throw off foreign rule.
"The economic losses of war are inenleulable.
Yet these losses are due to the struggle for economic gain. It is obvious therefore that permanent peace and prosperity can be achieved only by substituting i ternational economic ce-operation for unrestrained competition. Effective Joo-operation requires social machinery.
"Rortunately, progress is being made creating international agencies of ce-operation. The League of Nations has tion on economi problems.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.