The Washington times., 1916-03-29
THE ALLIES WAR COUNCIL

"that Great Britain has been the
junior partner in this alliance
against the central powers. France
has been and is the senior partner,
the managing director. The condi-
tions Of the war nave made this
necessary; and Britain has been will
ingly enough taking second place,
contributing its share as well as 1t
could but recognizing Frances right
to lead" .-. .....
To what extent England has taken
it's place in the ranks is indicated by
the fact that some time ago General
Joffre was placed in general control
Of military operations in the western
area, while now the general coun-
ell Of the allies sits in Paris, with
a French presiding officer. There
is no mistake in the policy Of plac-
ing premiership in French hands,
for of all the allied countries France
is the one that most confidently and
effectively appeals for the sympathy
of the world. In our own country
there is pro-British and anti-British,
pro-Russian and anti-Russian, pro-
Japanese and anti-Japanese senti-
ment; but there is almost no such
thing as an expression Of anti
French feeling. Even the people who
are the most devoted supporters Of
Germany commonly insist that they
feel sorry for the misfortunes Of
France, forced upon her by her as
ISOLATION with wicked partners, Eng
land and Russia.
So, both sentimentally and in a
military way, France is inevitably
the country to lead; and the splen-
did conduct Of her people, her SOL
diers, and her military authorities
has completely justified the trust
that has been placed in her. Doubt
less France could secure highly IA
vorable terms if she would with
draw from the alliance; but there
has never been intimation of weak
ening, wavering, or selfishness on her
part. She is in the war to fight
shoulder 10 shoulder with her allies
to the absolute end.
From Berlin come limitations
that the great war council at Paris,
in which eight nations participate, is
for the consideration Of terms on
which peace might be made. It will
be understood readily enough that
this is intended for home consump-
ton in Germany, which will be ex-
pected to feel cheerful over the pros
pect that it's enemies are talking
peace while the advantage is all in
German hands. But the allies and
the rest of the world will not. be
misled.
simultaneously with the confer
ence's consideration Of military,
naval, and economic measures for
pressing the war to a victorious fin
ism, comes the news Of another des-
perate German attack, and its fail
ure, before Verdun. It may we'll be
suspected that the day will come
when the coincidence Of the war
councils resolve and the German
check of yesterday, will be recog-
nized as the turning point in the
war.
Sitting in a great council cham
Der, guarded by land and by air
against the possibility of attack, the
representatives Of France, Russia,
Britain, Japan, Serbia, Portugal,
Italy, and Montenegro agreed on the
most important measures that must
be taken for the. prosecution of a
long and bitter war to a definite
conclusion: the economic measures.
There is to be cooperation in every
detail, pooling Of power, a COM
plete sacrifice of selfish interest OF
concern in order that the common
goal may be reached. It il a highly
significant development, and It will
not be misunderstood by the people
in real authority, the understanding
rulers, at Berlin and Vienna. II
means that, as never before, the re.
sources Of the whole world outside
the blockade lines are to be mobil.
lied, under the guarantee Of the
vast credit capacity of England
France, and Russia. The blockade IL
to be sustained and strengthened
marine freights are to be taken un
der rigid control, the production o,
necessaries of life and of war is Il
be unified and its control centralized
It is sign Of determined purpose
of united action, of common inspira
ton, and unselfsh sacrifice, such a
will not be misunderstood by eithel
Germany or the rest of the world.
. T-.Ix VIIsIN