Themannerinwhichbusinessinterestsworkoutingovernmentpolicymaybeshownbyfollowinguptheirbearingupononephaseofthispolicy。Anextremeexpressionofbusinesspolitics，andatthesametimeacharacteristictraitofthehigherlevelsofnationallifeinChristendom，isthecurrentpolicyofwarandarmaments。Modernbusinessiscompetitive，emulative，andthedirectionofbusinessenterpriseisinthehandsofmenwhoaresingle-mindedintheircompetitiveconductofaffairs。Theyneitherareinclined，norwillbusinesscompetitionpermitthem，toneglectoroverlookanyexpedientthatmayfurthertheirownadvantageorhindertheadvantageoftheirrivals。Underthemodernsituation，asithastakenshapesincetheindustrialrevolution，14*businesscompetitionhasbecomeinternational，coveringtherangeofwhatiscalledtheworldmarket。Inthisinternationalcompetitionthemachineryandpolicyofthestateareinapeculiardegreedrawnintotheserviceofthelargerbusinessinterests；sothat，bothincommerceandindustrialenterprise，thebusinessmenofonenationarepittedagainstthoseofanotherandswingtheforcesofthestate，legislative，diplomatic，andmilitary，againstoneanotherinthestrategicgameofpecuniaryadvantage。Thebusinessinterestsdomiciledwithinthescopeofagivengovernmentfallintoalooseorganizationintheformofwhatmightbecalledatacitringorsyndicate，proceedingonageneralunderstandingthattheywillstandtogetherasagainstoutsidebusinessinterests。Thenearestapproachtoanexplicitplanandorganizationofsuchabusinessringisthemodernpoliticalparty，withitsplatform，tacitandavowed。Partiesdifferintheirdetailaims，butthosepartiesthathavemorethanatransientexistenceandsuperficialeffectstandfordifferentlinesofbusinesspolicy，agreeingallthewhileinsofarthattheyallaimtofurtherwhattheyeachclaimtobethebest，largest，mostenduringbusinessinterestsofthecommunity。Thering15*ofbusinessinterestswhichsecuresthebroadestapprovalfrompopularsentimentis，underconstitutionalmethods，putinchargeofthegovernmentestablishment。Thispopularapprovalmaybesecuredonthegroundofasoundbusinessplatformorinpartonsomegroundextraneoustobusinesspolicyproper，suchasawaveofnationalanimosity，apopularcandidate，alargegraincrop，etc。Buttheonlysecurebasisofanenduringpartytenureofthegovernmentmachineryisabusinesspolicywhichfallsinwiththeinterestsortheprejudicesoftheeffectivemajority。
Ininternationalcompetitiontheultimaratiois，asever，warlikeforce，whethertheissuebebetweenprincesofthegraceofGodorprincesofownership。Itisafavoritemaximofmodernpoliticsthattradefollowstheflag。Thisisthebusinessman’svaluationofnationalpolicyandoftheendsofnationallife。Sostated，themaximprobablyinvertsthesequenceoffacts，butitisnonethelessafairexpressionofthecloserelationthereisbetweenbusinessendeavorandthemodernmilitarypolicies。
Diplomacy，ifitistobeeffectiveforwhateverend，mustbebackedbyashowofforceandofareadinesstouseit。ThedefinitiveargumentofthosewhospeakforarmamentsinEnglandandAmericaisthatthemaintenanceofbusinessinterestsrequiresthebackingofarms。OntheContinentofEuropethisargumentcommonlycomessecond，whilepatrioticfancyandanimositytakethefirstplace。
Armamentsservetradenotonlyinthemakingofgeneraltermsofpurchaseandsalebetweenthebusinessmenofcivilizedcountries，buttheyaresimilarlyusefulinextendingandmaintainingbusinessenterpriseandprivilegesintheoutlyingregionsoftheearth。TheadvancednationsofChristendomareproselyters，andtherearecertainvaluableperquisitesthatcometothebusinessmenofthoseproselytingnationswhoadvancethefrontiersofthepecuniarycultureamongthebackwardpopulations。Thereiscommonlyahandsomemarginofprofitindoingbusinesswiththese，pecuniarilyunregenerate，populations，particularlywhenthetrafficisadequatelybackedwithforce。
But，alsocommonly，thesepeoplesdonotenterwillinglyintolastingbusinessrelationswithcivilizedmankind。Itisthereforenecessary，forthepurposesoftradeandculture，thattheybefirmlyhelduptosuchcivilizedrulesofconductaswillmaketradeeasyandlucrative。Tothisendarmamentisindispensable。