Marriage and Morals

Russell’s concern about America’s growing power was reflected in a 1925 article entitled ‘Is America Becoming Imperialistic?’ ¹ The article demonstrates the thoroughness of his researches. Quoting from contemporary studies of government policy, Russell traced the extent of American economic penetration and consequent political control of Latin America. He reiterated his view that the tendency for America to dominate and oust her rivals in the Far East and China would lead to a war with Japan. While condemning U.S. government policy, Russell was careful to point out that the American people themselves were kept unaware of what was happening. For this reason he was intent upon attacking the altruistic notion that American involvement abroad was by way of ‘conferring a favour on “backward” nations’. Russell’s view was that power corrupted, and ‘now that America is supreme, the palm of evil doing must soon pass to America’.