Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-08-30
EARLY
DECIDED ON WAR
IN 1914--CEC|L
Sought ltaly's Aid in Entering
Balkan Conflict in 1918
When Not Quite
Ready.
LUST FOR LAND SHOWN
Conversation of Grown Prince
and Efforts to Get Eng
land to Aid Against
France Recalled.
LUST FOR LAND SHOWN

h6CdlleQ.
London, Aug. EFT see they are
again talking in Germany about how
England started the war" remarked
s>ord Robert Cecil, minister of block
lde. in his weekly talk yesterday with
me Associated Press. 1T is an old
1ong, but 1 think the time has come,
particularly in the United States, when
1t is we'll to restate briefly the bald
facts regarding the beginning of this
great conflict.
Frankly, do not think any one
anywhere can honestly believe that
England began the war. If any person
had arisen in a public assemblage in
this country two weeks before the war
began II asserted that in a fortnight
we would be plunged into the, greatest
international conflict the world has ever
seen. the speaker would have been re-
garded by everybody as a dangerous
lunatic. Our peoples thoughts were
the farthest possible from war and our
statesmen were overwhelmingly occu-
pied with domestic affairs, particularly
the Irish question, to the almost COM
plete exclusion of international politics.
1t is true that some Of our people had
been saying for a ear or more before
that time that Germany intended to at
tack US, but their warnings fell on deaf
ears, so much so that no preparations
were mad
Wanted War Year Before.
Certainly we did not start the war.
Who did,? | think the answer is I'M
questionable. For at least a year be-
fore tho war haOor CoyY,,orxy hnI 1nG-
nitely madeu up her mind to fight.
"A Italian writer has told us how in
1913 Germany approached the Italian
government with a view to taking
action in the Balkans, but Italy said
n would regard such a war as Of
fensive and not defensive, and would
not lend her support. Germany with
she was then strong enough IT, go 1t
alone. 40
American Ambassador Gerard has
old us the German crow prince made
no secret of his desire for war and
that he even expressed the hope hat it
would come before his father died, and
he added that if it didn't come before
as he, namely, the crown prince,
assembled the throne.
Pact Against France Sought.
"Balfour's secretary, Ian Malcolm,
has also quoted his conversation with
the German crown prince in which the
prince suggested that England and
Germany should combine to destroy
France
There is no question but that Ger
many had made up her mind that
about the summer Of 1914
would be the best time for war. This
was because the new French military
service act would not become effective
and the Russian strategic railways
would not yet be ready.
Moreover, they knew thoroughly the
conditions of corruption in Russian Of
flclal life and hoped our domestic pre-
occupation would keep us out, although
they We're determined to go on with
their plans whether we STAYED out Or
not.
Wanted Britain In.
In every country there are men of
many different opinions. The extreme
war party in Germany actually well
coined and desired our as it
gave them an opportunity to kill two
birds with one stone. The wiser ones
no doubt hoped we would I'll out SO
they could take us singly later, followed
stu later, as Ambassador Girard has
pointed out, by the United States.
This was the situation in Germany
when h Sarajevo murders came and
gave the war party it's eagerly awaited
opportunity. The Austrians delivered
their ultimatum to Serbia. There Is no
reasonable doubt hat the ultimatums
were submitted to Germany and ap-
proved and there is no doubt it was
then and there decided that whatever
was Serbia's answer they would pro-
ceed against Belgrade. The ultimatum
was couched in uch arrogant terms
That a favorable reply was difficult, but
little Serbia ped Tn NON raad {I,,
that which practically acquiesced in all
the principal demands and agreed to
submit the remainder to The Hague
Nevertheless the Te1ltons
moved on Belgrade.
Peace Efforts Pushed Aside.
You are familiar with the efforts
Which the English foreign secretary. Sir
edward Grey, made to have the Teuton
demands submitted to arbitration. or
conversation. The Teutons brushed all
efforts aside
Meanwhile, Russia who could not
stand idly while Serbia was being
crushed, began mobilization. France
entered next. Taen came our demand
on Germany for IN understanding in
respect to the neutrality of Belgium, an
Undertaking which France had already
cheerfully given. Such an undertaking
being refused. we came in.
Iha is the simple story of the wars
origin. The most crushing Indictment
against the central powers is that they
over and over again rejected all pro-
posats for conferences on the eve OF wal.
conferences, which must inevitably
have resulted in averting the conflict,
because 1t would have been shown how
fllmsy was the Whole structure upon
which the central powers were starting
the world war"
IreHaA# LH