New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-24
A New Note in German Comment
on the Origin and Causes OF
the War.

in Europe-that those TWO CounVlicS WIZ 49,
against their will and in spite of their efforts into
i. defensive war. In a recent address in this city
Predecessor Kihnemann. Of the University OF Bres-
lau, in justifying Germanys declarations OF war
against Russia and France, quoted Schilers line
ahout wicked neighbors not allowing peace loving
countrv 10 live in peace In the Prussian Diet on
Thursday the president of the lower chamber
Count Won Schwerin-Lowitz made the same ex-
plsnation: 1--WE have hOnorably striven for peace
hut have been forced into war by jealous and
obvious enemies. not to fight for greater sphere
Of mower. the enlargement of our empire or on the
basis Of commercial profit but to defend our homes
and families"
IL is encouraging to note that there are sui
some people Of open minds in Germany and Aus
tria.Hungary who are ready 10 acknowledge that
some Of the responsibility for precipitating the
war must be charged to German and Austro-Hun-
sarian diplomacy The Vienna "Neue Freie Presse."
the most influential newspaper in Vienna, pub
lished in its afternoon issue Of September p note
worthy review Of the White, Blue and Orange
books 1.-THE various official summaries of the diplo'
matte correspondence preceding the war;, in which
the idea that the war could and should have been
avoided through negotiation is expressed with little
restraint The article signed P. G., was written
in Berlin and its publication in the leading journal
If Austria. Hungary without protest from the cen
sor is highly significant.
OF the negotiations which Sir Edward Grey in
itiated and which had for their purpose refer
ence of the Serisn dispute to the arbitration Of
the powers either through formal conference or
through informal exchanges, the author says IF
the negotiations had gone further they would per
haps have led. in spite of all difficulties, to re-
suit But the misfortune was that Sir Edward
Grey made his proposal too late There was not
enough time to deal with it thoroughly. Events
came with rush. On July 81 dispatches concern
ing the proposal few to and fro between London.
Berlin. Vienna and Petersburg. But on July 81
Germany had already served the twelve-hOur uti-
matum on Russia, and when on August that
ultimatum expired with no answer from Russia,
everything was at an end and war broke out The
time-the precious time-for negotiation might
have been obtained if Germany had limited herself
TO ordering a mobilization corresponding to the
Russian mobilization, and had not served twelve
hour uItimatum on Russia"
That is a clear acknowledgment Of the precipi
fancy on Genany's part on which the negotiations
went to wreck. The brusQue ultimatum from Ger
many to Russia, following Austria Hungarys AFRO
CANT ultimatum to Servia and her eager declara
ton of war against her tiny southern neighbor
rubbed public opinion the wrong way and convinced
the outside world that Germany and Australian
gary were the aggressors If merely to live il
peace was Germany's desire she should, in tn,
onion Of all the friends of peace, have restrained
her haste TO rebuke Russia aud have allowed NOR,
time for the discussion of plans for arbitration anC
compromise.
According 10 the writer in the "Neue Fret,
Presse," the German people did not want war will
France and looked hopefully forward 10 better re
lions in France were a great victory for the peace
party there. II peace could have been maintained
for another generation, until the last recollection,
Of 1870 bad passed into the msts Of history, wht
knows whether a reconciliation between Germany
and France could not have been effected which
would have ushered in an era of long continued
peace golden age for Europe and one Of the great
est blessings ever vouchsafed to mankind? 1t may
be added that there are at present not few people
In Germany who hope that the war may make
reconciliation possible certainly the wish exists or
every side that Germany, If it succeeds in conquer
ing France, will not impose humiliating peace or
her and that this peace will open the way to sub
seQuent friendship. Wheeler this hope that the
war will be the beginning Of Frauco-Germar
reconciliation is more than a dream of German
idealsts only the future will show
Furthermore, the writer regrets extremely the
blasting OF the expectations which might have been
based on Sir Edward Greys very pregnant sugges