New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-26
BY J. l.. GARVN.

bitter but ineligible epigram. There
is an idea, right or wrong. tNat hyp-
motto suggestion from Berlin has in
sensibly influenced both the Vatican
and the White House more than either
Of these moral centres Is quite aware.
Everything IS being done 70 spread
the impression that the Central Em-
pires are winning, shat the Central
Empires cannot be beaten, but that
they will make q reasonable discount
on their gains, however gotten, II only
their supposed position as conquerors
is substantially recognized.
President Wilson's services as "hon-
est broker" would be preferred, be-
cause it Is thought his proffered in
tervention would be more embarrassing
to the Entente Powers than that Of
the Pope. Even the Presidents de-
tached comment. as Of a Greek chorus,
upon the European tragedy and the
blessedness Of an early peace cannot
at present be exactly neutral in effect,
but must aid the known designs and ef-
forts Of Berlin. In the extreme deli
cacy OF present circumstances states
men. as Bismarck said. have TO reckon
seriously with the impalpable-with
the manipulation OF opinion as well as
with the play Of concrete factors.
Germany and the Blockade.
Meanwhile, that invisible arbiter Of
some things, the British feet-so far
the only complete and certain con-
queror in its spheres treated as
though It did not exist. The Allies
measured calculations as to the future
are ignored or disparaged, though
Germany is only too well aware of theiI
weight. Her consuming wish is TO es-
cape from the pressure of the blockade
"a far more formidable siege, after
ell, than that Of Verdun-and to pre-
vent the maximum power Of the Allies
from being brought into action in the
eliminating campaigns of determined
war next year, and perhaps after.
Germany, we know, is at her climax
in respect of fighting equipment. She
Yields a prodigious gun power. The
Allies, by a necessarily slower process,
will be later in coming to their climax.
To evade it Germany would like to
move heaven and earth. She is even
more anxious for her partners. above
all for Turkey, than for herself.
British Condemn Peace Now.
If we are asked why VIC do not echo
peace sentiment in these circumstances,
TOO transparent TO deceive any man,
we answer in the irreverent phrase
with which Palmerston once disturbed
the solemnities of politics: Because
We are not geese"
We might add, as another reason,
that the Allied peoples, so far as they
are at present aware, do not consist
mainly of fools, weaklings or towards.
They are clear about the righteousness
of their cause. They are clear about
tho justice and feasibility of their
aims. They are clear about their reck-
oning of the cost. They think they
understand their business. As IT IL
their business of life and death, IL is
rot improbable tina, they do under
stand it.
Much better it IS 10 get right down
TO bedrock realities with regard 20 the
prospects and conditions of mediation.
It has not been the usual way Of set
tlinC great wars. Even the present war
might possibly be settled without it,
The Northern States, ia the American
Civil War, were thousand times right
10 reject il. j. was not applied 20 help
France in 1871, when the worlds best
interests most required. Bismarck and
Beaconsield interviewed. indeed, IN
1878.
Intervention as an Evil.
At the Berlin Congress the small
nationalities Of Eastern Europe were,
IS some one said, "cut up like Diapers
stuff in the interests OF an artificial
and disastrous statecraft. The patched
up treaty of that day was in no small
measure responsible for the catas-
trophe Of this Intervention has some
times come when IL should not and has
failed TO come when it should The
name is not altogether a blessed word
IN history, and the thing is not neces-
sar.ly q ! anacea.
That depends II depends upon g
nicer reserve and tact beforehand than
in any other human matter, and upon
infinite skill and dexterity at the time.
1t is an Office which might TAX the
cynical address OF a Talleyrand, com
bined with the hrotherly love of st.
Francis of Assist. Unframed benevo-
lence in action and advice does not Of
itself make a good surgeon or sound
lawyer. Perhaps al no time whatever
can mediation be quite equally accepta-
/ bic 10 both sides, and there will be
danger TO the end that it cannot be
offered to either side without some
suggestion, however faint, of collision
with, or of complacency toward, the
other.
Kaiser Hypnotizing L. S.?
There is, Of course, no present in
ference of that kind in any responsible
quarter, nor the rcmotest approach 20
/ it, There is, as ! have frankly indi-
Gated, some popular apprehension that
+ hypnotic suggestion from Berlin may
mislead by imperceptible degrees the
good faith of those upon whom 10 is
practised. At "a time like this pop
ular feeling, however vague, is apt 10
affect the air in ways with which diplo-
macy cannot grapple, for diplomacy
cannot acknowledge the existence of
such feeling-not even by way Of cor
rection and denial-without doing more
/ harm than good.
Only to those unacquainted with the
] importance of atmosphere In interna-
/ tional affairs will this appear fine
| drawn reflection. Its serious force Will
he felt ut once by any man who has
had long and close experience of the
relations between diplomacy and public
opinion in Europe. There are things