Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-20
THE FIRST CAUSE OF WAR,


Lament on the navy hill is reported
to have thrown the members # me
House into CONSERVATION by it's rcr"'
la,ions CT what Germany was doing
in the way OF building drcadnoaght*.
II is possible that the effect of tbs"
revelations" en- The leaders OF par
lament may have been a little eNaS-
gerated but they gave the British
press an opportunity to bristle with
war ;alk. and revived the feeling OF
resentment against Germany which
has recently stirred the English peO
pie.
And after all. the occasion for so
much smoke seems but very little fire.
The excitement conferred around tn"
statement of the first lord of the adj
miralty to the effect tina; Germany
could builG mere great bat!leships
tnan England by 1912. and that no
one knew just wha; her Constructive
capacity was or just what she wai
doing with It, Such CONDITION is.
admitting it's truth. doubtless impor
tant but hardly exciting. Naturally
Great Britain Is jealous of her naval
supremacy. for her empire depend
upon its maintenance. bu; nothing In
tstl manys plans threatens it. The
Fathcrlard also has become widely
scattered empire. and is in need OF
ships L. protect herself. Might i.
not be- more accurately conceived that
her immense naval plans are a part
OF he: new defensive policy. rather
than preparation for aggressive
measures against Greu, Britain or
U'her nations?
But if the leaders of England insis,
upon sounding the horn Il danger.
the English people will believe that
danger threatens. Then let them look
out how their warnings and mutter-
inEs and threats eXCiEe the Germans.
II IS not broken treaties nor official acts.
lu; the rancor of peoples that finds
expression in talk .-?hich breeds hatred
and war between nations these days
In his discussion OF our brush with
Japan over the San Francisco schools
question. Secretary Root said. before
the American Society of International
Law:
The people now. not gov
ernmcnts. make friendship or dislike.
sympathy or disccrd. peace or war.
be ween nations. Through she col
umns Of the myriad press and me y
saSes flashing over countless wires,
multitude calls 10 multitude across
boundaries ana oceans In courtesy
Or insult, in amity or in defiance.
Foreign Offices and ambassadors and
ministe rs no longer keep lr break
the peace. but the conduct Ct each
people toward every other. The pco-
pie who permit themselves TO treat
he people Of other countries with
discoartcsy and insult are surely sew
ing The wind 10 rear the whiriwini.
for word = suIl n and rcvrn2rful
hatred can never be a world OF peace.
Against such a feeling treaties are
waste paper and diplomacy the empty
| rou; inc Of idle form
| Wisdom insists that he Rriti n
| people SHOULD take this Language tC
themselves Great BRITAIN has 10
jus; or reasonable grounds for com.
plant against Germany: Germany has
| no .cause e JEALOUSY against Great
Rri;air. But lc; unEoverncd talk. in.
temperate debate. an excited press
arouse in tn breasts Of the Two pro-
pies Suspicion. resentment and hatred
OF each ojhsr-aud war will surely
cGms. 4 better and cheaper way 10
prevent T. than by building more
dreadpoughis IS TO culiiVa'c a spirit
Of good feeling and sympa,h. between
1 the great mass Of EngIishmcu and
the great mass of Germans Wash.
ing Post