Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-08-27
RESPONSIBILITY FOR WAR.

On whom does the responsibility for
the present great war rest? The
complete answer to hat question can
not be given today nor tomorrow. Nor
can it be given at any time in terms
OF the events Of the past few weeks
alone. The war was precipitated, as
everyone knows. by the murder Of the
heir to the Austrian throne, but the
causes which brought about the con-
ditions which made the wal possible
lie far back, n are both racial, no
%litical, social and economic in their
nature. All of these things will be
subjects Of study for many years. and
1t will be for the historian of gener-
atoms hence to analyze the situation
and set forth the contributing causes
in their proper sequence and relative
Importance. -
Important light, however, is shed on
the events of the ten fateful Jays i'm
mediately preceding the war by the
publication of England's white
book" and Germany's white paper"
each being a compilation Of docu-
ments. and, in the case Of Germany,
of comment on the documents which
passed between various diplomats
while European conditions were in a.
state Of tension, and all of the govern
ments were interested in preparing
for a war or averting one.
The English publication is more
complete, and. to the lay reader, the
more satisfactory, for it contains, in
proper order. all the correspondence
which passed between Sir Edward
Grey and the English representatives
at the various capitals. These dccu-
ments are given without argument or
comment Of any kind. The record is
spread before the public to speak for
Itself, and on the showing made in that
correspondence the government relies
for the justification of the curse
which it has pursued. The German
publication is less complete. 1t con-
tains only a part Of the correspond
ence between the imperial government
at Berlin and German representatives
IN the various capitals, and this is
made the basis for a lengthy argument,
somewhat after the nature Of a law
yers brief. In the British case all of
the facts are laid bare without rom
ment OF any kind. the reader being
left to form his own conclusions. In
the German case, conclusions based on
only a partial statement of the facts
are arranged and stated officially for
the reader, a plan less satisfactory to
the person who likes to ascertain his
facts and interpret them as he thinks
proper.
The assassination Of the Austrian
archduke was followed by a demand
on servia for ar investigation, and for
the taking of certain steps to insure
Austria against the prosecution Of hos
tile movements against her on Ser
Wan soil. The conditions made were
severe, but Servia assented to all Of
them except the demand that Austrian
officials constitute a part Of the court
of investigation. This Seryia offered
to submit to arbitration. Austria new
er receded a hairs breadth from full
aHu instant compliance Win all OF her
conditions, which even her ally, Ger
many, admitted were severe. Russia,
France, Italy and Great Britain sought
to secure some modification Of these
demands, and especially some assur-
ance that the territorial integrity and
Independent sovereignty of servia
would be respected. No assurance
with reference to servia's independ-
nee could be obtained, and the Rus
sian authorities not unnaturalIy as
sunled that 1t was the purpose OF Aus
tria to reduce Servia to a state of vas
sa1age. This caused Russia to pre-
pare for armed protest. The peace
Of Europe wAs menaced, and Sir Ed
ward Grey, who appears to have TAX
en- the.Iead in the peace negotiations,
fmportuned all the great powers to
use their influence 10 ward off such a
disaster. He suggested that. ,if Rus
ssia and Austria could not he induced
to continue their negottations sfurther,
.hissSown governlnent, together with
thoss a. Geynany Italxsand France.