New-York tribune., 1909-04-18
PEACE CONGRESS OF MONEY KINGS MIGHT AVERT WAR

cuniarv loss to them and one which they would
be unable to face with equaninnity. An Anglo
German war would mean not merely shrink
age but IN many cases a total loss Tens or
thousands Of concerns would be wrecked beyond
repair while some governments not directly
concerned in the struggle would be so affected
thereby as 10 find 1t Impossible TO fulfil their
financial obligations
But II economic considerations so infu-
entail in preserving peace. and If the kings OF
finance powerful in the matter how Is
II that war can ever take place? That is
question which will naturally occur after read
ing the above. The answer to this IS that there
is one agency important as momentarily 10
reIegate even the most weighty economic con-
siderations to the background-namely. popular
sentiment Public feeling. aroused sometimes
through sheer mischievous reckessness. and
sometimes by the secret maneuvres Of the
enemy NAV force the hands of the government
and confront Il with the alternative OF war
abroad or revolution at home. II was popular
sentiment that drove the Japanese government
to begin war upon Russia in 1904. and 1t was an
agency Of the same kind that compelled Gar
Alexander II to embark In 1877 upon war with
Turkey for which neither Mis- treasury his
army was prepared and in which the Initial
stages resulted in disaster 10 Muscovite arms
Popular sentiment insidiously excited in Paris
marck forced Napoleon III to proclaim war
against Prussia and to invade German territory
on pretext altogether frivolous-namely the
demand upon the court Of Berlin Of pledge
that Leopold Of Hohenzollern. who had already
abandoned his candidacy for the throne of
Spain. would never under any circumstances
allow it to be put forward again.
The streets of the French capital filled
with an excited populace, shouting ITO Berlin!
To Berlin" and Napoleon was given to under
stand that unless he gave way to 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 govern
ments, but II cannot dominate popular senti-
! ment and when the latter puts forward the
alternative Of war or revolution the great money
kings actually choose war. since they have some
expectation of being able by means of their
purses to keep the conflict within certain
bounds whereas there is knowing, especially
in these modern times, where a revolution once
started will end
It is this public sentiment which constitutes
the most dangerous factor in the present
strained relations between Great Britain and
Germany. Its peril lies largely In the fact that
ii Is so unaccountable. There is no knowing at
what time 1t will burst forth. or what particular
form the outbreak will take. That the Kaiser
his responsible ministers. the principal states
and the leading captains of industry
merce and finance in his empire are anxious for
a with England nobody for moment be-
iieves But there has been much talk in
England of the necessity of smashing the Teuton
navy before il is permitted to attain proportions
large enough to rival the British supremacy OF
the seas that both William and his people con-
slider 1t necessary to provide for the maritime
defences of the empire and to endow the latter
with sufficient number of ships to admit OF
Germany being able to hold her own with Eng
land in all questions relating to the The
creation of a big Germany navy rivalling in
size that of England Is not necessarily meant
for offence. but rather for defence of Teuton in
terests and TO enable the Berlin government to
speak with the same weight and authority in
maritime affairs as its magnificent army en-
ables it to do by land.
On the other hand England which has always
regarded not merely her wealth and her pros
perity but even her national existence as based
upon her maritime supremacy is naturally pro-
foundly alarmed at the extent to which the lat
ter is threatened by Germany. And there
many In Great Britain who holding these views,
insist both in speech and in print that II is a
mistake to allow Germany time to build the
ships planned in her naval programme. and that
it would be much better to fight her now and to
Illustrate her ambitions for maritime supremacy
before she had been able to realize them. They