The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
The Terms Of the victors.

Professor J. HOLLAND RosE in an
article in the Forfniohtip RercU
maintains that the idea, popular in
some quarters, that the Allies II vic
torious will insist upon harsh and
punitive terms Of peace is IAN unwar-
ranted assumption" lie Is sure that
the sta tesmen at the conference table
would avoid the mistake which BIS
MARcK. spurred on by vow MoITKE
and the military party, made after
the war with France in 1871, when
he demanded n huge indemnity and
insisted upon the cesson of Metz. 1t
might be said for this view that Mr..
AsouIrH. and particularly Sir EDWARD
GREY, who will have good deal to
say about the next peace II Great
Britain and her allies triumph, are not
vindictive men. hut are eminently prac
teal, cool headed and far seeing. men
also Of i!beral and humane instincts
Blood and iron as policy is foreign
to their natures. They know that
England would have to live with Ger.
many after the war, not according TO
the gospel Of hate. hut in conformity
| to the imperative need for reha bilita
ton and enlightened progress. Or.
RosE felicitousy revives an utterance
Of PITT during the war with France
on June I. $780,
"our simple object is security. Jus,
security. with a little mixture OF !ndem-
nincation. These are the legitimate OBJ
tects Of war at all times. and when we
have attained that end We are in a con-
dnion 10 derive from peace is bench
cent advantages but until then our
duty and our interest require that We
should persevere urappalled in the strug-
gle 10 which We were provoked. We
shall no: be satisfied with a false Sc
curity. War. with all its evils, is better
than a peace in which there IS nothing
TO be seen but usurpa;ion and injustice.
dwelling with savage delight on the hum
Bile. pros;ra.e condition of some ttm,d.
suppllant people"
| aIleT dltIlpD WIN W ltN
and CAsTLrREAGH. as Or. RosE goes
on TO show. were opposed To humiliat-
ing a brave enemy or to any terms
that would give France just provoca.
ton TO disturb the peace OF Europe
again. "In my opinion" wrote the
Duke. I'VE ought TO continue our great
object Gas contemplated in the treaty
OF Paris In lsl4), the genuine peace
and tranquility OF the world. in our
view. and shape our arrangements 50
as TO provide for IT," CAsTLEREACH
was OF the same mind and just rs
firmly opposed 20 recaSting the main
provisions of the treaty of Paris at
Is not our business" he said. ITO col
lect trophies. hut 10 try. II we can, 10
bring back the world 10 peaceful
habits ! do not believe this TO be
compatible with any attempt now
materially and permanently to affect
the territorial character OF France as
settled by the treaty OF Paris
The truth is that Europe had n
loathing for war when the Napo,conic
era ended. 1t had cost every country
engaged in the long drawn out con
fiict not only the best of its manhood.
but appalling losses IN treasure and
ruin of property, booming one and
all to carry for an indefinite period
staggering burden Of debt. Recon
structIon was a problem 70 make the
wtsest statesman speculate whether
half a century Of toll and thrift would
restore normal conditions.
After the great convulSon OF the
present day IN Europe war will te
hated and mathematical as much as
was the case hundred years ago.
AS IN 1915 10 IN 1918 or the blessed
time when peace returns. the states
men 10 whom II faNs 10 arrange the
terms and to plan for the future will
make the genuine pcac" and tran
quility OF the world" their govern
ing consideration, and they will aim
TO insure a peace 70 last for genera
tons. Such a consummation will be
impossible II crushing indemnities IRE
exacted. If colonies are torn from the
defeated. II their fleets are arnro-
priated and national pride is ground
under the heels OF the yictors.