EUROPEAN EXPANSION AND WORLD POLITICS 17
Again, it was claimed that an inexorable law of the uni-
verse had predestined the great nations to occupy the earth,
and thus to bring peace, justice, security, and a beneficent
rule to all lands and people. “The Anglo-Saxon race,”
said Mr. Chamberlain, “is infallibly destined to be the pre-
dominant force in the history and civilization of the world.”
“Non, France,” cried Victor Hugo in his inimitable way,
“I'univers a besoin que tu vives! Je le redis, la France est
un besoin des hommes.” As a corollary to this, the seizure
of large areas of uncontrolled and undeveloped territories
was a necessity, if the blessings of good government and of
our Christian civilization were to be brought to the less
fortunate and the half-civilized peoples of other lands. And
any state that failed to occupy its share was neglecting an
imperative call of Divine Providence. The Russians pene-
trating the wastes of Turkestan and Central Asia, the
French fighting their way into the jungles of West Africa,
and the Germans forcing treaties from the chiefs of East
Africa, were answering this call. ““The Britons are a race en-
dowed like the Romans with a genius for government,” said
Sir Wilfrid Laurier; “their colonial and imperial policy is
animated by a resolve to spread throughout the world
the arts of free self-government which they enjoy at home.
And they are in truth accomplishing this work.”
Without doubt the most vital motives for expansion are
to be found in the political and economic needs of the time.
To protect the commercial and financial interests of their
citizens in foreign lands was a good and sufficient reason
for intervention to most of the powers. And France and
Great Britain entered Algiers, Tunis, and Egypt to safe-
guard the interests of the French, British, and other Euro-
pean creditors. But the economic factor was the most press-
ing. “Colonization is for France a question of life or
death.” wrote Leroy-Beaulieu. ‘Either France will become
