The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-14

publishes the following from its London
correspondent:
Sir Edward Grey. Secretary OF state
for Foreign Affairs. talking with the
writer AT luncheon in the statesman's
london home. said substantially this
"Prussian tyranny over western
Europe. including these islands. our
people will not stand, The pledges given
by Mr.. Asquitli rs regards the restora-
tlou of Belgium and Serbia shall he kept.
We have signed a pact to make peace
only in concert with our allies. This
pact. ] need not say. We shall honor
strictly and to the end.
What We and our allies are fighting
for is a free Europe. We want "a Europe
free not only from the domination 81
one nationality by another. but from
hectoring diplomacy and the peril Of
war: free from the constant rafting of
the sword in the scabbard and from the
perpetual talk of shining armor and war
lords. We feel that we are fighting
for equal rights. for law. Justice and
peace and for civilization throughout the
world AS against brute force which
knows no restraint and no mercy"
To interview Sir Edward Grey. one
hardly need say. is "A unique privilege
and honor. This came to me on April
10 after many months OF battling with
tit iiiiihtlIipi IIeJulltt VI t1e bTltlsn
public men OF high responsibility against
the journalist as a journalist.
Fight to Preserve Liberties.
What do YOU mean by tho destruc-
ton OF Prussian militarism?" I asked.
what Prussia proposes as we un-
derstand her replied Sir Edward. lis
frussian supremacy. She proposes a
Europe modelled and ruled by prus-
STA. She is 10 dispose OF the liberties
OF her n%eighbors and Of US all. We
say that hfe on these terms is intol-
cradle. This also is what France, Italy
and Russia say. We are not only fight
ing P-uss!a's attempt TO do in this in
stance II all Europe what she did TO
non -Prussian Germany. but We are fight
ing the German idea OF the wholesome
ness-her almost desirability--of ever
recurrcnt war, Prussia under Bismarck
deliberately and admittedly made three
wars.
w want n settled peace through.
out Europe which will be n guarantee
against aggressive war. Germany's
philosophy is that a settled peace spells
disintegration, degeneracy and the sacri-
flee OF the heroic qualities in the human
character. Such philosophy, II it is &c
survive as a practical force. means
eternal apprehension and unrest. !,
means ever increasing ornaments. II
means arrest!ng the development OF
mankind along lines OF culture and hu.
manity. We are fighting this idea. We
do not believe in war as the preferable
method of settling disputes between ma
tons. When nations cannot 80" eye &c
eve, when they quarrel, when thcr. is
a threat Of war, We believe that the con.
troversy should be settled by methods
other han those of war.
"Such other methods are always sue
ccssful when there Is a good will and
NJ aggressive spirit. We believe In ne
COLLATION.. We have faith in interna'
tional conferences. We proposed a con
ference before this war broke out. W.
urged Germany to agree to a conference
Germany declined to do no.
at was a case OF Europe submitting
to the Teutonic will or going to war,
II the conference in London In the Bal
kan crisis OF 1913 had been worked
to the disadvantage OF Germany or her
allies. the German reluctance FOR a con
ference in 1914 would have been in
tel!igible, but no more convincing pledge
of fair play and single minded desire
for a fair settlement han the condu
of that conference In London has ever
been given.
These two methods NJ settling inter
national disputes--the method of nego'
tiation and the method OF war; ASK
you to consider in the light of this strug
gle. DO we not see the disaster or th'
war method conclusively shown? lie"
much better would have been n confer
ence or a reference to The Hague
IN 1914 Than what has happened
since: Industry and have
been dislocated. the burdens o
life heavily increased, millions o.
men slain. MANNED and blinded, inter
national hatred deepened and intensified
and the very fabric OF civilization men
aced. These nave come from the wa
method.