The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-04-18
WHERE THE DANGER LIES
How War Between Germany and England May
Be Precipitated.


ity of the affair belonged to la Haute
Finance" which. by bringing Irresistible
pressure 10 bear upon the French gov
eminent, had forced il to yield 10 the pre-
tensions Of the Emperor.
I When all this is taken into considera-
ton II would seem that II these not mere
/ ~ captains, but rulers Of finance, were 10
decide that their interests would be best
served by peace there would be no war
/ between England and Germany, owing 10
the lack OF money. II Is difficult, indeed.
10 see how anything but harm could ac-
crue 10 them from a conflict Of this kind.
For IT would involve not only tremendous
economic disturbance and ruin. but like
wise the shrinkage OF all values. from
government bonds 10 stocks in financial,
commercial. and industrial enterprises-
that Is to say, tremendous pecuniary
loss TO them. one which thSy would be
unable to face with eQuanimity. An Anglo
German war would mean not merely a
shriakage. but in many cases total loss.
Tens OF thousands Of concerns would be
wrecked beyond repair while some gov
ernments not directly concerned in the
struggle would be so affected thereby as
10 find II impossible to fulfill their finan-
cial obligations
But II economic considerations are so
Influential in preserving peace and If the
kings OF finance are 50 powerful in the
matter. how is il that war can ever take
place? That is a question which will nat
Crally occur after reading the above.
The answer 10 this is that there is one
agency so important as 10 momentarily
relegate even the most weighty economic
considerations 10 the background. namely.
popular sentiment
Public feeling. aroused sometimes
through sheer miSchievous reckleSsness
and sometimes by the secret maneuvers
of the enemy. may force the hands OF the
government and confront II with the al
tentative OF war abroad or revolution at
home. 1t was popular sentiment that
drove the japanese government TO COM
mence war upon Russia IN 1904, and II
was an agency Of the same kind that
compelled Car Alexander II 70 embark
IN 1871 upon a war with Turkey. FOR
which neither his treasury nor his army
was prepared and in which the initial
stages resulted in disaster to Muscovite
arms
Popular sentiment. insidiously excited
IN Paris il is said by the agents pro-
vocateurs' Of Bismarck. forced Napoleon
III 70 proclaim war against Prussia. and
70 invade German territory. on a pretext
altogether frivolous. namely. the demand
upon the court OF Berlin of a pledge
that Leopold OF HohenzoIlern. who had
already abandoned his candidature for
the throne OF Spain. would never under
any circumstances allow il 10 be put for
ward again. The streets Of the French
capital were filed with an excised popu-
lace. shouting. To Berlin, To Berlini and
Napoleon was given 10 understand that
unless he gave way 10 the people in the
matter, their wrath would be turned
against HIS government and against his
dynasty. instead Of against Prussia.
The Haute Finance can. as have shown
above, control kings and governments,
but II cannot dominate popular sentiment.
and when the latter puts forward the
alternative Of war or revolution. the
great money kings usually choose war.
since they have some expectation OF be-
ing able by means Of their purses to keep
the conflict within certain bounds: where
as there is no knowing, especially In these
modern times. where a revolution once
started will end.
II is this public sentiment which con-
stitutes the most dangerous factor in the
present strained relations between Great
Britain and Germany. It's peril lies
largely in the fact that II is so unac-
countable. There is no knowing at what
time II viii burst forth. or what particu-
lar form the outbreak VIII take.
That che Kaiser. his responsible minis
tiers, the principal statesmen. and the
leading captains Of industry. commerce.
and finance in his empire are anxious
for war with England, nobody for one
moment believes. But there has been so
much talk in England OF the necessity
OF smashing the Teutou navy before IL
is permitted 10 attain proportions large
enough 10 rival the British supremacy Of
the seas. that both William and HE peo-
pie consider it necessary TO provide for
the maritime defences Of the empire. and
10 endOw the latter with a sufficient
number Of ships 10 admit OF Germany
being able 10 hold her own with England
in all questions relating 10 the sea The
creation OF big German navy rivaling
in size that Of England, is not necessarily
meant for offense. but rather for defence /
OF Teuton interests. and 10 enable the
Berlin government TO speak with thal
same weight and authority in maritime
affairs. as it's magnificent army enables (
II 20 do by land.
on the other hand. England. who has
always regarded. not merely her wealth z
and her prosperity. but even her national
existence. as based upon her maritime (
supremacy. Is naturally profoundly /
alarmed at the extent 10 which the lat I
tor ig threatened by Germany. And there |
are many in Great Britain swho. holding
these views. insist. both in speech and in /
print, that II is a mistake to allow Ger
many time TO build the ships planned
in her naval programme. and that il |
would be much better 20 fight her now. |
and 20 Illustrate her ambitions OF mari !
time supremacy before she had been able /
TO realize them.
They urge that whereas England is now
vastly superior 10 Germany In naval
strength. she may not be so two OF three
years hence In Germany. on the other
hand. there are patriots who clamOr for
their government to take advantage of
the present complete disorganiZation Of
the British army. and Of the virtual
chaos that prevails in Englands military /
affairs. to precipitate conflict for which |
the enemy may be better prepared in two /
or three years time.
These opinions. voiced by the German |
press. are re-echoed far and wide. tend |
ing TO excite popular sentiment against
England to a dangerous degree. In fact. 1
a favoTite topic of discussion in Germany /
is the capture OF London by a coup, pos !
sibly without a preliminary declaration I
or war. and IT is pointed out that with I
the British metropolis in the hands of /
the invaders. pretty we'll the whole vast /
British empire would be az the latter's I
mercy. For London is not merely the 4
capital of the United Kingdom, but the 4
and above all. the eco
nomic heart OF the whole empire, besides /
being in matters Of finance and Of trade 1
the chief brokerage and exchange mart /
and center OF the civilized and uncivl- !
lized world. Englands financial credit 1