Evening journal., 1915-07-12
CBY W. +. WRIGHT1


shattered upon 50 slight a pretext?
A little time. few days even a few
hours. might have sufiiced 10 preserve
the world from present horrors, but
no time was granted. A snap judg-
mcnt was taken by these pettifogging
diplomats. The peace of the world
was to be tcrpedoed by submarine
diplomacy"
But even after all this, England
France and Russia made repeated ef-
forts to hold back this impending Kai-
ser-lich deluge OF blood, pleading still
for conferences. exchanges of views,
etc. but Germany refused because she
wanted war, and therefore threw
every possible obstacle in the way of
a peaceful solution OF the really trih-
ing atfair-an offence infinitely more
petty than Germany's official slaugh-
fer on THEE separate occasions Of 119
Americans and her defiant justfc-
alton of those atrocious actsl
In his chapter on Peace Parleys"
Mr. Beck ends with these condemning
words 1T will be noted that every
proposal to preserve peace had come
from the Triple Entente, and that
every such proposal had been met
with an un3ompromising negative
from Austria and either that or OBJ
structive quibbles from Germany"
Mr. Beck lays bare the diplomatic
jugglery of Germany and Austria
which hoodwinked their people with
garbled or suppressed facts, or down
right lies
He shows that Austria after Servia
had agreed 10 every insulting demand
sent the unjust ultimatum She knew
Servia must reject. the one that would
result in war; he shows how Ger
many's lying policy deceived the other
Powers and oven her own ally, Italy
pictures Germany plotting to bring
on the war at a time when she knew
no other nation, save Belgium was
ready; shows the petty fnesse with
which the chancellories of Berlin and
Vienna attempted to take snap
judgment upon the rest of Europe"
their ministers purposely going away
at that critical time in order to balk
all efforts at peace even the Kaiser
making a pretended visit to Norway
Thus in Berlin and Vienna by con-
certed action the representatives of
England, France and Russia we're
evaded until Seryia's ultimatum had
EXPIRED"
At the eleventh hour Austria had
agreed to peace overtures, and the
proposals we're hopefully under way,
when the Kaiser deliberately broke
them off. In one OF the many superb
figures that ornament his invincible
argument, the author says Like
Brennus with his vac victis the Kai-
ser threw his sword into the trem-
bling scales and defantly turned the
balance against tho peace of the ma
-precipitated the war by an
arrogant ultimatum which Russia
could not accept without fatal sac
rifice of her national honor
Mr.. Beck's keen analysis of the Kali
ser's character forms a vignette pic
ture worthy Of Macaulay. He pitiless-
ly exposes the hypocrioy of the
Kaiser's pretended role Of media
tor wherein he cunningly tries to
throw upon Russia the blame for the
awful war he was doing his best to
bring on This much is certain that
the Kaiser. with full knowledge that
Austria had consented to renew its
conferences with Russia. and that a
ray Of light had broken through the
lowering war clouds. either on his
own initiative or yielding to the i'm
portunities of his war camarilla. d.
rected the issuance of the ultimatum
to Russia ana thus blasted the last
hope Of peace.
"The callous disregard by Germany
of the rights of Belgium is one OF
the most shocking exhibitions of DO
litical iniquity in the history of the
world!" Mr. Beck then shows that by
treaties from 1889 to 1870, and by
official declarations in 1911, 1913. the
neutrality of Belgium was guaranteed
| by Germany, and that as late as July
| 81, the eye of the war, these assur-
ances had been renewed; he also
shows that Germany signed the com.
pact of the I'd, Hague Peace Confer.
ence which solemnly declared for the
inviolability of neutral territory in
time Of war.
He dissects away the tissue Of quib.
bles and lies her statesmen then and
since then have thrown about Ger.
many's brutal violation of Belgar
neutrality. otrips the wicked act ol
all the sophlstry of its apologists
and leaves n naked in all its barbariC
ferocity, and loathsomeness.
He quotes the admission of Ger,
many's guilt made August I'd, by theii
Chancellor, Bethman-Holweg, in tn,
Reichstag; Necessity knows no law
Our troops have occupied Gutenberg
and perhaps are already on Belgian
soil. Gentlemen, that is contrary
TO the dictates of international law
The wrong speak openly-that W.
are committing we will endeavor L
make good as soon as our militar.
goal has been reached"
This defence" says Mr. Beck, "i
not even a plea of confession an,
avoidance. Il is a plea OF guilty a
the bar Of the world. Il has one mer
IL. Il does not add 10 the crime tn
aggravation OF hypocrisy. After III
civilized world had condemned the in
vasion of Belgium with unurecedente
unanimity. the German chancello
rather tardily discovered that publi
opinion was still a vital force In tn
world-and framed FIVE months afte
this crime against civilization a be
slated defence"
The author savagely sets Chancello
Bolweg between the horns of a deadl
dilemma which either way ne turn
gore him for a palpable Hart
In the last chapter. The Judgmen
of The World" we have the conclu
sions Of this learned and experience
jurist, given after carefully reviewin
all the evidence. in tho case:
l. That Germany and Austria in