ABSTRACT
The modern world, with all its machinery for keeping things as they are, has failed to develop similar machinery for peaceful change. In past history the same conditions of rigidity have existed; they have been broken down by one means and one only-war. Like the sanctity of contract in commerce and finance, the sanctity of treaties has undoubtedly been undermined. Treaties, to be observed in future, must have a substantial degree of justice, and therefore of contentment, underlying them. This chapter looks at the state of world affairs with which they deal, and which they are designed to preserve from arbitrary or violent change. The best way to avoid the unhappy atmosphere of pressure on the one side and "concessions" on the other is to approach the whole question from a different point of view, that of the world community and its interests.
