Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
OUT OF BLACKNEss OF WAR
GOOD RESULTS MAY CONE
Viscount Bryce Finds Time to Dis
cuss Historical Value OF
Events.
INTERNATIONAL CODE NEEDED
Struggle May Mean Preservation of
Small States Through Bond of
Greater Nations-Either That or
They Will Disappear in Conflict.

Greater Nations-Either That or
Ihey VIII Disappear in Conflict.
LYNDON July 31.--The noise of war
Is aH-pervading here and little but war
Is IN the minds of people. But on, NJ
the thickness Of war details accom-.
OF battles, long casualty lists W.,
loahs' recruiting. and ammunition sun
pres the student habits of Viscoun,
Bryce IN viewing the historical values
or events permit him to detacb ~,
self from the day-to-dav turnoi, a,n,
take his bearings on some Of tho I,ro,sr
results that may come out of tha
struggle -"e
when seen in his study by a repre-
1ehtatHe or the Associated Press, Lord
bryce showed the same keen interesr 4,
American affairs that has made hin, ~
authority on them since his american
commonwealth" appeared. and the
same intimate acquaintance with Amer
icah men and affairs, political and party
questions and public issues. He l.
little changed from his DAYS os amh,
sador at Washington: the same alert
ness and intense keenness of manner.
MS shaggy full beard and heavy eve.
prows now quite white; every move
ment having the vigor of a man of ,,,id
die life. Since he became n mernher -,
the House of Lords he gives much at
'ehtion 10 the pressing questions nov
crowding on Parliament, taking omar.
ters within easy reach of the ,ipper
cHamoer at Westminster. where he
often joins in the serious and ratbrr
| neavy debates of that august body
Ana yet he finds time for his literary
work and for guaging some of the his.
torical results likely or possible to sur-
vive the conflict.
INTEREST IN HIS REPORT
I SOURCE OF SATISFACTION
Inc interest taken in America on
! Lord Bryce's notable report on Alleged
Atrocities Committed By the Germans
IN Belgium was "A source of much sat-
! lstaction to him. THE committee over
which ] presided reached conclusions
very slowly and reluctantly" he said.
personally have many friends in
Germany and 1 could hardly believe
mat such things could be true or that
they knew such things were happening
But beginning with an open mind. and
even IN doubt the truth of the charges
was hally forced upon all the commit
| zee oy the accumulation of evidence
AS 1t is 1 cannot believe the German
! people know what is going on They
receive only the military version and
/ the people are not aware of the real
conditions. not only as to Belgium bui
! IN the whole range of events connected
with the war. The military party with
i It's Won Bernhard spirit is still com
| pletely dominant"
Reference was made in the course OF
the talk to Lord Bryces pamphlet on
neutral Nations and the War" and to
| some interpretations drawn from & on
! some of the larger results which might
come out OF the war Although these
interpretations were not intended at
the time for publication Lord Bryce
, later approved their use as expressinn
| his view. Is follows:
| 1T ia too soon to saw what tho u,r
VIII bring in good or evil but we
can at least hope, and. perhaps, see
aimiy. some Of the things to b. gained
Que OF the most desirable. should
say, Will be the territorial inEemritv
az small s,ates-Beigium. Ser5ia.
| switzerland. Holland. II this war
means anything, it means that n .yroup
| OK great states are banded together
IN projecting the small states against
absorption and humiliation. Tho
small state has been as useful in it's
/ way 'tc the worlds progress as the
great state, and of incalculable value
AS pacific barrier between antar-
"a'stic races. And yet the small state
cannot exist under the rule of force
| IL mas not the resources for vast mill
tary establishments. It's very eXis-
tence depends on the good faith OF the
| great and powerful states in dealing
! with IT, So that either the small state
/ is going to disappear in this conflict.
W
curity than it had before, and with
lasting assurances of it's territorial in
/ teSrity and the good faith of great
states in dealing with it. ] do not
doubt that the result will be in favor
| OF the small state. and that 1T will
be one OF the most beneficial results
/ To come out of the conflict
| Lord Bryce was asked IL this would
not lead to some Matchmaking of
treaties. so that it would become the
duty OF the great states to uphold
treaty obligations toward the sicuu
state
Yes. that is what we all desire
That is what the article. referred to
was meant to advocate. 1t is one of
| the larger results which we may fore
see with some hope of realization"
said Lord Bryce. This war has in
creasinSly shown the need OF am in
ternational code, under which treaties
are not alone respected by states. party
| TO them, but are part OF an inter
! national code of honor which all states
! are bound to uphold. Under such Il
code any state disregarding treaty
! obligation IL has soiemnly undertaken,
| offends not only the other contract
| ms party to the obligation, oue also
| the entire international bond OF states
leagued TO uphold the sanctity OF IN
| ternational compa cts. And once that
| principle is firmly established as |
| trust and believe II will be, then il
| follows that some means will he found
| by which the international code will
os made effective through the uni
versal mora! influence, and if need
be, the universal force of the civilized
nations OF the world"
| y