The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-04-13


demands of conscience in each case
does not lessen it's seriousness. In
this connection, it is to be remem
bered that the churches in Great Bri-
tain, Germany, and other nations are
largely state churches, and that the
Protestant churches of France are of
Huguenot descent, many of whose
leaders are Alsatians.
Any movement looking towards ul-
innate reconciliation and reconstruc
ton need to be guided by those whose
acquaintance with the political sit
uatlon is intimate, and our desire Tor
immediate reconciliation must be re-
strained in the light of these political
conditions
One must venture with modesty any
attempt at diagnosis, and all observa-
tions and impressions are subject to
the mutations of a confused situation,
in which the merest accident may up
set seeming probabilities. The pre-
sent moment is net the time for any
definite political or semi-pOlitical (or
even non-political) overtures for
peace A mistaken movement at just
this time might work incalculable
harm and delay. The movements
which are less likely to do harm at
this moment are such as the League
to Enforce Peace and the Organi7a-
ton Centrale pour une Paix Durable,
whose plan is now through several
pert commissions to study the situa-
tion. Anything, however, that aims to
stop the war is injurious.
The general attitude in Germany
has undergone a marked change, par
allel, in the main. with the change
of the Christian leaders, from the
manifest spirit of bitterness at the be-
ginning of the war to their present at
titude of Christian reconciliation.
l think that the moderates are
gaining in influence, that some of the
severer elements in the state are in
clining to moderation, that the posi-
bility that there have been misunder-
standings is an increasing conscious
ness, and that such considerations as
these, together with political and eco
nomic conditions. are the causes of
the present state of mind. The Chris
tian leaders are the subjects of the
higher motives and influences. How
far will they influence the state and
convince the people? That is a vital
question.
France is invaded territory; the
!
aroused 1t has for the time reach
ed, at least. dangerously near the SEN
timent of revanche, which she believes
to be righteous justice and its nee
essary retribution Her immediate
mood would impose preliminary con-
ditions which preclude even the idea
of conference. The suggestion of any
thing of the kind is offensive, and
she resents it. This, however. would
be entitled to some discount were the
issue clearly Joined. and especially
were she persuaded to place conf
dence in the ethics of her foe.
England occupies a somewhat me-
dating position, and comes nearer
seeing the whole field. She would ask
guarantees of a very strong and
guarded kind from Germany. and
would be less exacting than France.
Meanwhile the internal situations
are subject to fluctuatiOn. German
leaders believe that England means
practically to own Belgium, and to
take Calais as her recompense for
service to France, and it is even rum
ored that some such feeling turks in
France herself 1 heard nothing of
this kind, however, in France Some
of the Belgian refugees in England
are dllGBGQ 10 nave WOIn tlcI Wei
come cut. This, if true, has NATURAL
ly qualified active sympathy with the
Belgian people as a whole. Socialists
in all lands are more or less mercu-
rial The common people are increas-
ingly questioning
There is, in England a growing
feeling that, in addition to the White
Blue and Yellow Books of the diplo-
macy of the summer of 1914 one
should know more fully the record OF
the evasiye and suspicious, and, per-
haps, sometimes arrogant, deviou
and short-sighted diplomacy Of the
preceding decade.
How far have Germany's natural
complaints been ignored and left to
rankle? How far has vacillation OIL
evasion been misconstrued as perfidy
and hostility? Other Immediately in
cidental questions arise: How far
ahall we consider the situation Of the
Jews in Russia as not altogether un-
like the Armenians in Turkey? How
far may Poland and East Prussia be
thought of in terms of Belgium? The
answer to some of these questions
might explain even if it did not ex-
cuse or palliate. 1t would at least
explain points Of view not yet gener-
ally apparent.
'r-~ Tho foresoe the ultimate de
feat of Germany, if the war lasts Ions
enough admit the possibility thai