Perhaps the most prolific cause of war among the more enlightened countries was that produced by the jealousies and antagonisms which were developed by their contacts with unprogressive peoples--in the Balkans, the Ottoman Empire, Asia, and the Far East.

The method of dealing with such peoples, which the United States had found so successful in Cuba and the Philippines, had proved that there was just one honourable way of dealing with the less fortunate and more primitive races in all parts of the world.

Was it not possible to bring the greatest nations, especially the United States, Great Britain, and Germany, to some agreement on this question, as well as on the question of disarmament?
This once accomplished, the way could be prepared for joint action on the numerous other problems which were then threatening the peace of the world.

The League of Nations was then not even a phrase, but the plan that was forming in Colonel House's mind was at least some scheme for permanent international cooeperation.

For several years Germany had been the nation which had proved the greatest obstacle to such international friendliness and arbitration.