War, Peace, and International Distrust
It is a question for Japanese financiers to consider, whether war or peace is the cheaper from a money standpoint. It is now said, on the authority of a Tokyo press correspondent, that "the government will seek the consent of the Diet to increase the army from thirteen to twenty divisions, in order that Japan may be better qualified to discharge the obligations of her alliance with Great Britain." It would seem to be the irony of international friendship, as well as an ominous sign of the times, that it requires a greater military foundation to maintain an alliance with a friendly nation than to carry on a war with an enemy. By some means it appears that there is so little confidence between the governments of earth that even their nominal friendships are based upon military bases. They all seem to contemplate war possibilities, whatever their pretensions of peaceful intent; and it all implies a condition of distrust because of a general insincerity. Hence the "distress of nations, with perplexity" just prior to His second advent, foretold by the Lord. Luke 21:25-28.