War and the Future

This is the annotated edition including the rare biographical essay by Edwin E. Slosson called "H. G. Wells - A Major Prophet Of His Time".



On its face Mr. Wells's volume would appear to be a book about the war. But we all know that if Mr. Wells were to set out to write about the Stone Age he would soon be adventuring brilliantly among the thoughts with which the people of Europe and America are beginning to busy themselves and in which they are likely to be immersed by the day after tomorrow. So now, "having taken a trip along the battle fronts in Europe last summer, he has a great deal to say about what the people in England and France, and himself in particular, are thinking about many questions connected with the ending of the war and what will come after the war. The particular consequence and interest of his book in connection with these volumes that deal with our own future and endeavour to throw light upon the direction in which current ideas and discussions will carry us lie in the fact that in the latter part of the work he has something to say about the possibility of America joining with Europe in certain united efforts that he thinks ought to be undertaken after the war is ended. He points out that any political co-operation to prevent war in the future, such as the League to Enforce Peace or any sort of international tribunal, political or judicial, will not be sufficient unless industrial and economic questions also are included in its jurisdiction. Therefore, as he presents the matter, if we wish to enter into political co-operation in Europe we must consider also whether or not we are willing to join the European nations in the regulating and coordinating of these other matters. Mr. Wells believes that the mechanical developments and industrial organisation necessary for modern warfare have become matters of such huge consequence and cost that not more than eight of the nations of the world are capable of carrying on warfare.