TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1914-12-21
TnE BALANCE OF POWER.


I have never doubted the good faith
of Sir Edward Grey In protesting his
devotion to peace. He stroye desper.
ately to prevent the war that devas-
tates Europe. Peace was an English
interest. The famous balance OF pow
err maintained itself exactly even. The
British Government had nothing to
complain OF.
No sooner had France hurled herself
into the crisis by following Russia to
Armageddon than England was con-
fronted by a serious menace. France
being much the weaker must be
crushed by Germany. The balance OF
power, so delicately contrived in Lon.
don, would be thrown out of gear for
ever. France, TO be sure, might not
lose a square mile of territory. She
would, nevertheless, emerge too weak
ened to figure seriously In the Euro
pean concert. England, for her own
sake, must not permit the reduction
of France to the level Of a second rate
Power.
This consideration explains much
that went before. 1t accounts for the
growth of that entente cordiale" or
complete understanding between Paris
and London which dates from the clos
ing years Of the reign Of the late King
Edward. II explains also why Eng
land permitted herself to become In
yolyed In the fate of France rather
more completely than even Sir Ed
ward Grey may have realized.
W. ga Lsw@- 4e1a fmu@a M ~
least, in animated correspondence
with the French Ambassador with ref
erence to the disposition OF British
fleets and French fleets In the event of
war. There had been even prior to
this episode an exchange OF views be-
tween the experts, naval and military,
OF these most friendly Powers. They
talked over what they would do to-
gether IN case war broke out WNh
Germany. The Cabinet In London was
not apprized Of these things at the
time. The correspondence between
Grey and Cambon shows that even be.
fore that date the French fleet was
stationed lin the Mediterranean to POI
lice that route to the Indies, while the
British feet was concentrated In the
North Sea.
Thus was developed a situation
| which could not bio changed az will
when the war broke out-which could
not be altered, though war we're seen
to be Inevitable. Sir Edward Grey
told the House OF Commons as much
very bluntIy some t~wenty-fouT hours
before his Government declared war
on Germany. Let me quote q para.
graph from his speech. II was deliY.
cred on August 3 last, when the Az
quith Ministry had not declared itself
on the subject OF peace o. war with
Germany
fThe French coasts are absolutely
unattended The French feet is in
the Mediterranean, and has for some
years been concentrated there be-
cause Of the feeling OF confidence and
| friendship which has existed between
| the two countries. MY own feeling II
that IL d foreign aeet, engaged in q
war which France had not sought and
In which She had not been the aggres
s0r, came down the English Channel
and bombarded and battered the nm
defended coasts Of France, we could
not stand aside and see this going on
practically within sight of ia eyes
with our arms folded, looking on dis
~pasaionataly, doing nothing
And In b few moments more Sir I'D
ward Grey told the listening Com
mons this:
What h France t. do with her fee
In the Mediterranean? II she leaves 4
there with no statement from us al
to what we will do. she leaves hel
northern and western coasts absolute
" nudefended, at the mercy Of a Ger
man feet coming down the channel
to do as 1t pleases I'M a war which i
a war of life and death between
them
There vas then, a factor, q decisive
factor, determining EngIand's attitude
quite apart from ths neutrality Of Bel
GUM. I shall take UP this question d