The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-11

f'bilbulf lUlfTfNlS III general.
When Germany in these forty-thrcc
years tried her best to maintain peace
in Europe, she did not do 50 for the
purpose of gaining the approval of the
other nations. but rather acted in her own
interest. Within her boundaries there
are already living people Of French
Polish and Danish extraction. and il
is not such an easy task 10 assimlatc
these heterogeneous elements that Ger
man statesmen should wish To- increase
the foreign element by adding new terri
tories IT, the Empire. On the other hand
every year of peace has strengthened
the German nation. Her population
surpassed in number that of France 80
rapidly that the lattcr's wish for re-
venge on account of her defeat in 1901
was about To- lose the chance Of realiZa-
ton by mere lapse of time.
These circumstances make il clear
that there could not be any reason for
the Germans to risk their national px-
iStence by u new war. That the French
nation too did not wish the war became
evident when. some weeks ago. the dam
ger of an international conflict grew
apparent
n TIE white Papers Of both England
and Germany il is stated that these
two countries tried their best to pass
through the last crisis without armed
conflict. When, nevertheless, the war
came, il was caused entirely by the poll
icy of Russia.
Since 1909 Servia knew that what
ever she might choose to do her big Rus
sian friend would never allow Austria
To enter upon war with the Servians
Feeling shielded by powerful Russia.
Serva, therefore, started an unscrupu-
lous agitation against Austria. Repeat
edly within the last years Servia brought
Europe near the brink of war. The muir
der of the successor to the Austrian
throne was but a single act caused by
this agitation against the very existence
Of Austria.
There were only two possibilities left
for the latter, viz: either to suffer the
unity of her country To be undermined
by Servia or to put an end to this dan
gerous agitation. Before deciding for
the latter Austria formally declared to
Russia that she had no intention of ac-
quiring Serviap territory but only
wished to establish permanent peace at
her borders the move against Scrvia
therefore, would be an entirely defensive
measure.
The Russian Government, neverthe-
less, threatened not TO remain neutral
III u StTNldu- .NuSlIldl Cbull'l. ut ltd-
son for this attitude is To be found in
Russia's Pan Slavian ambition. Russia
Immediately started to mobilize her
army near the Austrian border endan-
gcring by this measure the peace of all
Europe Germany and Great Britain
together with other nations tried every
thing in their power Ia preserve peace,
but their steps were made futile by Rus
Sa's mobilization at the German border
quickly following that at the Austrian
frontier. Germany learned of these
movements at moment when she had
succeeded in establishing direct com
munication between the Governments of
Russia and Austria. Although the Rus
sian mobilization was an imminent dan
ger 10 Germany the German Imperial
Government took n last step. to avoid
war by presenting an ultimatum to Rus
STA. This not being accepted and Rus-
sian soldiers entering German soil even
before the time of the ultimatum had
expired Germany gould not hut consider
herself in n state of war with Russia.
Thus it is clearly shown that the
European conflagration is the direct out
come of Russias policy and that II has
by NJ means been caused by Germany.
Under present conditions peace can
only he restored by removing I'll" Fan
Slavian agitation. The question is
whether or not Russian autocracy will
triumph over western culture. II must
he left with the judgment of the Amer.
lean people which outcome they would
prefer.