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10 ECONOMIC INQUIRIES AND STUDIES
most curious presented for the solution of modem
societies. If the European numbers were less, the
problem might well be whether European civilization,
in spite of its assumed superiority in type, could main-
tain itself. The numbers and rate of increase being
what they are, it is easy to see that the main problem
resulting from the relations of the European and non-
European races cannot be whether the European
-civilization will be able to maintain itself by forlte, but
how it will be affected by its varying relations to the
other races.

Confining ourselves again to the European group,
and first of all to the nations within European limits,
another leading fact in international politics is imme-
diately suggested by the statement of the numbers of
the people. This is the existence of five leading powers
-Russia, Germany, Austria, France, and the United
Kingdom-each greatly stronger than any of the other
powers not among the five, except two; each big enough
to "take care of itself," though there are, of course,
differences of strength between them; and besides
these, the two others excepted, viz., Italy and Spain,
which come short of a first place, but by a less degree
than the minor States. All these relations of the great
powers are based largely on the mere enumeration of
the peoples. Three out of the five, viz., France,
Austria-Hungary, and the United Kingdom, have each
about the same population, in round numbers, 35 to
38 millions; one of the others-Germany-has about
one-fourth more, and Russia only has a much larger
number in Europe, viz;, 80 millions. While numbers,
therefore, are not everything, or Russia would be pre-
ponderant, which is notoriously not the case, and Ger-
many would not, as it does. count for more than in
proportion to its numbers. and the United Kingdom
would not have a peculiar position among the others.
on account of the undeveloped state of its military
resources on the one side. and the immensity of its