The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-29
Claim Allies Are Jealous of
Germany's Economic Growth.
POLICY IS TO CRUSH TEUTONS
"Militarism" Only CatchwOrd
Used by Antagonists.
Predict EngIand's Violations of
Neutrality to Grow Worse.

political events of the second year of
the war the German foreign office has
given the Associated Press the fol-
lowing statement:
THE world war was caused by Rus
sia's aggressive policy. supported by
Frances policy of revenge. But it
was rendered possible solely by the
fact that England subordinated to her
economic antagonism to Germany, all
her other interests.
Whereas Germany's enemies re-
gard it quite in order that they de-
mand territorial aggrandizements at
the cost of others-like Russia who
wants Constantinople and Galicia.
like France who desire Alsace-Lor-
raine and the left bank of the Rhine
and like Italy. who seeks Austrian
territory-they grudge Germany even
that she shall try to develop herself
economically in peaceable compett-
ton and they pronounce this an I'M
pardonable sin against the worlds Or
der of things.
They are unwilling that Germany
should become great and strong be-
cause the other powers want to be the
economic masters of the world. Ter
ritorial and economic aggrandizement
has united Germany's foes in a war
of destruction against US.
THE second year has brought the
view. In Russia this is openly adj
mitted, that country wanting Constan-
tinople as a war goal and having an
understanding with England. In
France there is a war-mad cry for
Alsace-Lorraine.
"In England, too, the mask has
been dropped. 1t is openly admitted
that Belgium was only a pretext to
Justify England's participation in the
war, which was undertaken only from
self interest.
Germany must be destroyed. Ger
many shall never more raise her head.
In this way is the goal of our enemies
more clearly enunciated during the
second year of the war.
''It is equally clear that the talk of
a struggle of democracy against mill
tarism is only a catch word used by
our enemies to create sentiment and
to c1othe outwardly their real purpose
of destruction. Assured1y there can
be no talk of a struggle for the main
tenance of democratic principles when
one side sets out to destroy the enemy
completely, including the civilian
population.
"And is England really the land of
democracy she pretends to be? Has
during the war shown that England
is drawing further than ever away
from democracy?
England Wants War of Destruction.
Moreover, If England had really
resorted to war in defense of the
rights of the smaller nations, as she
fondly announces to the world. she
could, without damage to her position
have answered otherwise than with
the threat of destroying Germany.
chancellor Won Bethmann- HoIl-
wegs remarks. made during the year.
outlined German aims clearly. Eng
land, therefore, wants a war of de-
struction which, according to the
plans of our enemies. shall continue
even after the cannon is silenced.
ut is not enough that the world
must be shaken by a protracted bloody
war. The world thereafter must not
even enjoy settled peace, if the will
of the entente powers prevails for the
decisions of the recent economic con-
ference at Paris do not signify an
economic peace but a permanent eco
nomic warfare.
This shows at the same time that
the great words of the entente pow
ers about fighting for the rights of
smaller nations and international or
der are empty sounds. for when Ger
trade, they simply ignore the rights
of other countries and base, not on the
principle of right, but on might pre-
cisely what they alleged they want to
abolish.
Enemies False to Standards.
'The second year of the war, there
fore, shows that our enemies are pre-
cisely what they wrongly reproached
Germany with being:
Namely. disturbers of the peace
Russia through her unbridled passion
for extending her borders: England
FOR wanting to dominate alone the
economic world. and France through
her passion for revenge.
1.-THE second year further proves
that it is our enemies who follow the
principle of might before right. They
show this in the more and more rcck-
less violations of the generally recog-
nized principles of international law
not only in the struggle against the
central powers but still more in their
treatment of neutrals.
Cites American Blacklist
The American citizen knows what
trade-brought by the illegal block
ade through violation of the postal
convention and other measures of
England, like that of blacklisting
firms. In spite of his own power, he
has borne hitherto many humiliations
with surprising patience and perhaps
in silent admiration for foreign power.
Neutral states had to submit to
many Illegal measures of the entente
powers contrary to their own interest.
But, with the throttling of neutral
trade, our enemies try also to place
political letters upon neutral countries.
Portugal, as England's vassal, even
permitted itself to be dragged into the
war at the beginning of the year.
Other states like Holland on the other
hand by energetic precautions against
England's maneuvers have been wise
to preserve their neutrality.
lone observes therefore indiscrimi-
nate violations of the rights of neutrals
in the interests of England and her
allies. These violations will also con-