We are struggling with the greatest of all obstacles to social reform when we attack the isolation of nations.  Unless that is overcome we shall perhaps patch and prop; but, time and again, we shall be enslaved to the immensely powerful non-moral forces, in the midst of which humanity finds its way.  I cannot speak more clearly—­[Greek:  bous epi glosse].  The nations face each other in conflict, while death, disease, violence, bestial indolence and docility corrode every state.

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But when war was at its brutish worst Grotius spoke with effect of a moral bond which survived between men who in physical conflict had been trying to take their ‘enemies’ for beasts and stones.  And humanity began once more its long struggle with the beast in man.  So now—­I leave it to your imagination.

We have made immense progress by assisting each other across the frontiers of states in such science as may provide high explosive and submarine warfare.  In these the nations have co-operated.  The guns which kill the English at the Dardanelles were made by Englishmen.  There may yet come a time when high explosives will be out of date, and the state will use the careful dissemination of disease among its enemies.  The only reason, I think, why it is not now done, is that no group can be certain of making itself immune from the disease it may spread among its enemies.

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Our conclusion, therefore, is that one of the elements in the present attitude towards social reform is a tendency to co-operation between nations.  We have seen that this has already had effect in various details of law and administration; and there is every reason to suppose that the method will be carried further.

But the problem cannot be left there.  Co-operation as a word is a mere charm, like Evolution.  There has been, and there may be co-operation in doing wrong.  That action has become common does not prove that it is right; and an ideal implies at least some ethical judgement.  Therefore, in every nation there are some few who are convinced of the necessity for more deliberately moral action in common between men of different races.  If there can be so much co-operation in the making of armaments or the defrauding of shareholders, there may yet be more co-operation in the elimination of disease and poverty.  And not only may there be such co-operation, but it must be.  The situation no longer exists in which most of the effects of an evil regime are confined within frontiers.  The social distress of European nations must be dealt with as a whole because it is a whole.  Therefore whatever militates against the unity of western civilization destroys the possibility of social reform.