South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-04
BALANCE
IS CAUSE Of WAR
RENDING EUROPE:


LONDON, Sept 4.-The balance OF
European power is the object of the
stupendouS war now rendlng all
Europe. Not sympathy with Servia or
Austria, not fraternal feeling for Slav
or Teuton, not provisions of the triple
alliance or the triple entente drew the
great powers into a titanic death Crap
pie, but the threatened overturnlng
of the balance of power.
Why did England declare war
against Germany and send her troops
TO the continent and her fieete into
the North Sea and the Mediterranean
to stand beside France and Russia
against Germany and Austria-Hung-
airy? That is a question which the
British public. and perhaps the peo-
pie of the United States did not clear
ment, when the war began.
Contrary 10 popular opinion, Eng
land did not hot-headedly espouse the
cause of little SerVia nor did Great
Britain blindly follow the lead OF
France and Russia, her allies, IN the
triple entente. England did not allow
either her sympathies nor her diplo-
matte obligations to run away with
her. She declared war to preserve
the balance of power in Europe. That
is the stake in this most far-reaching
war that may involve seventeen mill
lion men of five great powers at cost
of approximately $54,000.000 day
for a period of time that no man can
estimate.
England Had to Get I'm.
The full gravity OF the present
European situation cannot be appre-
ciated unless it is clearly and definitely
understood that in this great interna-
tional confiagration, England could
not, in her own most vital interest,
afford TO stand out.
1t was not matter of sympathy,
of philanthropy or of international
honor, as some of the talk in parlia-
ment might have indicated at the
time England's action was being dis
cussed but a matter of self-preserva-
ton.
BY the balance of power is meant
the cOntrSl of Europe. The object of
Great Britains foreign policy is to
keep the great powers in equilibrium.
The increased strength Of the triple
alliance, brought about by the enor-
nous military and naval development
of Germany, forced the dual alliance
of France and Russia. In the same
way the rise of Germany led TO the
conclusion of the entente cordiale be-
tween England and France. which, on
being extended To Russia, resulted in
the present triple entente.
Powers Fear Each Other.
In like manner. Russia, England
and France feared that Austria Hun
gary had designs on Servia and other
small Slav states OF Southeastern
Europe and might annex them if she
were victorious in the war. This
would have given Austria and Ger
many too much of the balance OF
power and would have upset the
equilibrium in the other direction.
That was why, in the last effort 10
avert a general war. Austria Hungary
offered 10 guarantee the sovereignty
OF Servia and TO agree that she would
not attempt 10 take any Servian terri
tory.
Great Britain cannot jeopaTdize her
maritime supremacy, safe guarding
her communication With her over
seas dominions, Canada, Australia,
India and Africa, by running the risk
of any one power or group OF powers
obtaining ascendancy on the contin-
ent. She cannot imperil her jealous
Is guarded traditions of liberty in her
constitution and legislature by expos
ing England To the danger OF dicta-
ton from a foreign power with ideas
OF government and freedom utterly re-
mote from her own. For these reas-
Ons. England was one mind, that she
could not afford Co allow France 10 be
crushed or the dual alliance 20 be
weakened.
Therefore England joined the war