The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-09-18
War Jury Gets the Papers.

The British and the German governments have
both sent to this country copies of diplomatic cor
respondence, designated as "The White Papers," to
give Americans an understanding of their positions
their efforts maintain peace, and where they place
the responsibility for the war On the part of the
British government the diplomatic correspondence is
presented verbatim without Introductory remarks or
explanations and the correspondence of Sir Edward
Grey with the British ambassadors in Berlin, ST.
Petersburg, Vienna, Paris, and Rome, speaks for
itself.
1t would be difficult for any one to find in this
correspondence any other note than that of an
earnest and sincere desire to compose the differences
first between Austrian and Serva, then between Aus
tria and Russia, Germany and Russia, Germany and
France, and finally for the preservation of the neu
tralty of Belgium Whatever the underlying causes
of the war, Sir Edward Grey has made good case
for Great Britain in the diplomatic correspondence
which becomes the most lasting memoranda of the
preliminary stages of the conflict from which history
must be written
The British government in these papers presented
every apparent possible compromise that could be
suggested in honor by great nation. And the COR
respondence also shows that Russia and France were
willing to go to extremes to preserve peace, that
Russia willing to hold Servia in check and aid
Austria in securing every honorable satisfaction from
Servia so long Servian sovereignty and Servian
territory guaranteed; that France was willing
to join England in guaranteeing the neutrality of
Belgium and that both France and Russia pledged
themselves make hostile demonstrations against
Germany
The German White Papers" are of a different
character. They are prefaced with a long explana-
ton giving history of the quarrel between Austria
and Serva and ustfying Austria in all she proposed
to do. The German diplomatic correspondence is
the of the tone of that of Sir Edward Grey
and hardly in keeping with what is regarded as diplo
matte intercourse between equal sovereign powers in
this day and age of the world This correspondence
orstles with ultmatums while at the time there is
promise of peace, but not in peaceful language The
German correspondence expresses desire to localize
the war, but does this with the assumption that the
Kaiser alone be the arbiter of all differences
Germany sends ultimatum to Russia while profess
ng to mediate between Russia and Austria, an ulti-
natum to France while protesting friendship for
France, and frankly states that she will ignore her
OWN treaty obligation to protect the neutrality of
Belgium, because it is necessary to send her armies
through Belgium TO quickly strike France
The German White Papers" present the diplo- |
macy OF the autocrat with the big stick We are |
somewhat familiar with that kind of diplomacy in |
his country but it does not impress US as diplomatic
however much we may at one time have looked upon
t as brilliant and bold, We have got beyond the
Big Stick age, and it appears all the more dangerous
when dramatized by the Kaiser of Germany in his |
forts to preserve the peace of Europe
The correspondence OF Sir Edward Grey is mod |
rn diplomatic and considerate of the sensitive pride
md the prejudices of the nations with which he had
o deal The correspondence made public by Germany
of past age. and exemplifes the man with
hip on his shoulder
Both England and Germany appeal to the United |
states for favorable judgment in this great quarrel
# the ages, by sending the White Papers of this
ountry, and these papers will have Considerable
art in forming the judgment of the American people,
egardlesS of their preconceved opinions as to the
ause of the quarrel We believe in juries hearing
he evidence before they decide and it is apparent
hat Europe wants the American people to sit on the
ury in this case.