Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 292
292 obtain the sinews of war without having to resort to direct taxation. The people of these countries did not feel the burden which was being laid on their backs at the moment, but now their backs are bent double under the staggering weight of national debts, and future generations will be kept occupied in reducing the weight. If loans had not been possible, the result of the war would still have been the same, but the devastation of France, the ruin of Germany, the destruction of Austria and the heavy indebtedness of England would have been avoided. Nay, the war itself might have been avoided, and even if it had broken out the belligerents would soon have been exhausted, peace would have been signed within a year, and mankind could have again resumed its forward march of progress. Efforts are being made to secure a reduction of armaments. But this is only a half measure which would afford no security against the repetition of war. If a government determines upon war, it will not find it difficult to provide itself with arms. The only sure means of preventing war is the abolition of interest. The Holy Quran says that interest leads to war, and this has been confirmed by terrible experience. Wars, whether internal or external, can be put an end to, and peace can be established only when interest is banished from the social and economic systems of all countries. Then may we indeed hope to see rivers running with milk. The rich would then cease to have the power to oppress the poor, and governments would be afraid to make war except in defence of their national honour, when they are convinced that the people would be prepared to