CHAPTER  XVII

NATIONAL  EXPANSION

Prince  Bismarck's  idea  of  Gerraany  as  a  "satiated  State" — His  conceptions
of  foreign  policy — The  modern  development  of  WeltpoUtik  in  Germany —
WeltpoUtik  an  economic  necessity  for  Germany — The  pressure  of  the
population  question — Dr.  P.  Eohrbaoh  on  Germany's  economic  limita-
tions— ^The  alternatives  open  to  Germany :  emigration  or  new  trade
outlets — The  national  food  question — Limits  of  Germany's  corn-growing
capacity — The  ideal  of  the  agricultural  State  threatened — The  present
and  possible  density  of  population  in  Germany — A  Socialistic  view  of
WeltpoUtik — German  mercantile  competition  is  bound  to  become  more
severe — The  possibility  of  emigration — Germany's  colonies  of  little  value
for  settlement  purposes — Emigration  has  greatly  decreased  during  recent
years — Pan-Germanic  projects  offer  no  solution  of  the  population
problem — Attention  turned  to  South  America  and  Asia  Minor — The
German  colonies  in  Brazil — The  Bagdad  Hallway  and  Gorman  expecta-
tions— The  policy  of  the  open  door — The  extension  of  Germany's  sea
pov?er — Popularity  of  the  ' '  large  navy  ' '  movement — Two  motives  in
operation,  the  economic  and  the  political — The  Emperor  the  true
director  of  naval  policy — His  conceptions  of  world-policy — The  naval
construction  programmes — The  nation  united  in  calling  for  a  large  navy
— The  forces  behind  the  movement — The  Navy  League  and  its  propa-
gandism — No  possible  finality  in  naval  programmes — Official  statement
of  the  German  position — England's  attitude.
