New-York tribune., 1911-09-30
THE WAR.

The outbreak Of war between itdl!
and Turkey affords in the first instance
biting commentary upon the WISDOM
OF the prophets. For a generation many
have been regarding q war between
France and Germany as certain, ana TOT
several weeks past they have been de-
claring IL 70 he momentarily imminent.
For years. too. there have been bicker-
ings between Germany and Great Brit
ain and war between them has been pro
nounced certain. There has been the pc
rennial war cloud in the Balkans ana
clash between Russia aud some Euro
pean neighbor, not to mention Russian
descent upon India, has loomed large III
ANTICIPATION. But while all these NUT
terings are growing weary with age, an
unexpected war, like the proverbial bolt
from the blue, flashes TO the front III
actual realization. In the face Of such
circumstances we might almost ask what
state Of peace is really secure and what
long drawn out tbreatenings of war are
not empty
It is impossible not to regard this eX-
traOrdinary precipitancy and the strange
indifference Of Europe without suspicion.
Certainly, If conditions exist In Iripoli
which make instant action necessary for
the welfare Of humanity, they have been
kent concealed from the world with mar
vcilous completeness. In the absence OF
any revelation Of them the idea already
| frequently expressed is emphasized ana
confirmed, that Italy is simply improving
the opportunity which the Morocco Incl
dent affords Of selling territory which
she has long coveted, and that she has
! hastened matters so greatly because the
| Morocco dispute seems to be ending and
she wishes TO complete her stroke before
| il is fully ended. The Indifference OF the
other powers is likely to be explained Oh
the theory that they are willing that
Italy should do this because they them
selves, some of them, are doing the same
or want presently to do the same else
where Austria did it in Bosnia, France
/ is doing it in Morocco, and if Russia
should want to do it in Persia the prece-
dent Of TripOl1 would facilitate the
process.
The sympathy Of the Western world is
| instincdvely with a Western power
against an Eastern, and that Of ChriSten-
dom with a Christian power against a
Moslem Also It is conceivable, and not
at all improbable, that Italian govern
ment will prove superior 10 Turkish and
I that the condition Of TripOli will be i'm
proved as result Of the conquest which
| is now impending, Yet we must not
ignore the possibility that a Western
| Christian power might act without due
warrant toward an Eastern MOslem
power and that the end cannot crown
the work to the extent of making bad
work good The world will hope that
| the course Of Italy may be fully justi-
! fed. and that good will come from the
action which now seems lamentable For
/ the sake Of such justification it may at
t1ngly inquire why so peremptory and
nrecipitate a course was necessary, and
why the other powers, with such re-
markable unanimity, refrained from
making the offers Of mediation and the
suggestions of amicable settlement which
are morally incumbent upon them under
| the treaty Of The Hague, Of which both
! the belligerents and all their acquiescing
ueighbors are signatories.