The Washington herald., 1915-08-31

miss an opportunity that might possibly
be important to the future of both coun-
tries
"'Sir Edward Grey was visibly
moved as he greeted me. He said the
| decision he had been obliged to make
was the gravest of his entire life. and
that the deciding consideration was
that participation in the war would in
Jure England little more than a pass
i've attitude and that, moreover, Eng
| land, as participating power, would
be in better position to throw her
| influence into the balance than by re-
naming neutral because she would be
able at any time to threaten to with
draw from the conflict.
The violation of recognized inter-
national treaties guaranteed by Eng
land made 1t impossible for her to
stand aside. he said. Also. he regard
ed ii as expedient to consider the sug-
gestion of the imperial chancellor
| establishing conditions for Great
Britain's neutrality.
Would shorten StruERIe.
From the British standpoint such
transaction he said, impressed him
as improper and he could not enter
into negotiations with power that
could make such propositions. He laid
chief stress as he had in his former
interviews on the Belgian question,
without adding, as he did in his speech
in the house of commons. that Eng
land could not look on while Germany
endeavored to reduce. not only France,
but also Belgium and Holland to
state of dependency
The British foreign secretary's con-
fidential communication to Prince
Lichniowsky was to the effect that.
should events not take the turn antici-
pated by the German military party
or should Great Britain wish for other
reasons to bring the war to speedy
end, Sir Edward Grey would always
be prepared If he remained in office
to undertake the task of mediation
and be of assistance to Germany.
Sir Edward Grey said that he had not
the slightest intention to crush Germany
and. wished only to restore peace upon
acceptable conditions and put an end to
the unspeakable misery Of the civilized
world.
Prince Lichnowsky remarked that the
role Of arbiter would be easier for Sir
Edward Grey if his country maintained
neutrality. The latter replied that. on
the contrary. the participation of Eng
land would shorten the duration of the
war.
Could Have Avoided War.
IF Sir Edward Grey had assented to
the acceptance of the proposals for a
conference he would have maintained
peace.
If Germany had quietly looked ON
while Russia gathered her millions of
soldiers at the frontier, Germany today
would look as East Prussia did after the
Russian invasion, and Sir Edward Grey
himself had read the report of the Brit
ish Ambassador at St. Petersburg that
Russian mobilization must lead to Ger
man mobilization and war.
"If Sir Edward Grey had told ST. Pc
tersburg that Great Britain would NOT
enter the conflict war would have been
avoided instead of being brought on by
the promise Of support.
Germany fights, not for supremacy.
as Sir Edward Grey said. but for the lib
Grafton of Europe from the brutal su-
premacy that England had maintained
over it by her powerful fleet, and with
her policy of dividing the European pow
ers into two hostile camps, hacking at
each other in the interests of Great
Britain and permitting that nation to
throw her weight where 1t best served
her ambition"