The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-12-05

This must depend largely on the Importance
Of the question in dispute. or OF its prompt
decision. IL the dispute is over a matter OF
vital interest. before any reference to a court
or to arbitration full opportunity should be
given for interposing the good offices OF some
third Power. or in affairs of grave moment OF
several Powers acting Jointly.
The momentous events OF July. 1914. are n
strong Illustration OF the expediency OF such
an orer of interpretation. Whenever there is anv
reasonable chance OF it's being kindly received.
The haste OF Austria-Hungary in pressing her
demands upon Sorvia is most easily accounted
for By her unwillingness TO listen to objections
from other Powers Nevertheless. 10 several
of them had. at once. united in a formal one:
OF their good offices. IL would have been far
more difficult for her TO come out before the
eyes OF the world and decline II than IL was
simply to withdraw the matter from a dipio-
matte consultation proposed by one of the great
Powers and that a Power occupying a position
not absolutely friendly.
We must take facts as they are. Europe Is
trayersed by two ranges OF associated nations.
Each Is a combination OF three VI the great
Powers. On the east Is that OF Germans
Austria-Hungary and Italy. On the west Is that
OF Russia. Great Britain and France. Between
these ranges come n cluster OF lesser Powers.
whose policy Is neutrality. and for part Of
whom neutrality has a certain Furopean
guarantee The maintenance OF peace with
'@Na 6A'atcl "A ALWAYS DGen their
great aim. They are no match for them. In
the European concert. also. they can. in the
nature OF things. have no considerable share.
tender OF good offices to Austria Hungary ana
Seryia. at the outbreak Of their differences Inv
Belgium. or Holland. or Switzerland, would have
been almost ridiculous. Had sdch a tender
neen Jointly made BY all the neutralized States
or Europe. from Norway 20 M IL would
nave been more imposing. though probably
futile. But had such a tender been made bv
tnem In company with the two non-European
great POWarq-fha IfnffQA GfafAa. lat H.
Asiauc interests. and Japan-it is not impos-
sible that Austria Hungary would have felt N n
able to decline II. Servia. OF course. would
have j~oyfully accepted such a tender from
almost any quarter.
The whole incident shows that a erea,
nation does not readily change a position which
weak one.
Ii Hung Chang wrote In HIS diary in 1896:
-Ihere are always wolves where there are
sheep. IL is the same in the life OF man ana the
lives OF nations" But wolves are nor 10 ha
round in a thickly settled country. They dy h.
tore civilization They are the common enemies
OF the human race. Men protect sheep and kin
wolves. So with the advance and snread n,
civilization and of international law NAV We
expect the wolf among nations to recede ana
disappear. We may expect more We o,v
expect the great Powers OF the world ~ ~
more slow TO use their strength to carry in
thelr favor a doubtful point OF fact or right
we may expect that, should the present Euro
pean war prove indecisiye. and In another
generation some fresh occasion arise for the
outbreak, however passionate, OF feelings OF
racial antagonism. there will be then some CD
p%ortunity for judicial interposition, and for its
proving enectual. because Il voices the world.
wide sentiment OF that future time.
II the diplomatic pourparlers fail OF success.
and II a tender OF good Offices is declined or
proves Ruthless. a third hope lies in mediation.
This also would often be preferable 10 an i'm.
mediate EFFORT to force a judicial settlement.
even were there a well -organized court estah-
lshed for that purpose.
Mediation is in its nature facultatiye and no,