The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-17
The Great War Was aeGreat Blunder

The treat War was q tSreab Blundef.
1t was the German Crown Prince
who more than n year ago frankly
spoke of the war as 'idiotic." Exact
ly what the supposedly most militar-
istic OF the Prussian militarists meant
by this was not clear at the time. 1t
may not be today; but the evidence
Is thickening that sane German opin
ion is rapidly coming round to the
view of most neutrals and many i'm
partial students that the war. consid-
cred merely from the standpoint Of
German interests. was a huge mis-
take. IT is not necessary to argue
that the German government is con-
scious OF military weakness or breads
a collapse at home. Taking its strong
rush for peace merely at its face value.
the Inference Is unavoda HE that it
believes more can be gained by ending
the war than possibly could be b. pro-
longing Il. And while IL has not made
public the conditions of peace which
Ii would propose, such strong hints
and calculated leaks have come from
Teutonic circles in Washington and
elsewhere that We have n pretty good
line on what Germany would stipulate.
Saying nothing now of the great con-
cessions che would make, let us look
at what she would ask the allies to
concede. Roughly IL comes down 10
n return OF the German colonies and.
in general free opportunity for Ger
man political influence and for trade
in the East.
Now. what we would point out is
that all this was in a fair way of be-
ing secured to Germany by treaty
without firing a gun. 1t has long been
known that the British foreign office,
in conjunction with the governments
of France and Russia, was earnestly
seeking, after the Balkan war. to
come TO agreement with Germany in
regard to these very matters of Ger
man colonies and the legitimate out
let's for German trade in the Turkish
empire. Sir Edward Grey had cher
tshed the honorable ambition of as
surfing peace by a series OF treaties
covering these points. This was one
reason why he drove SO hard to avert
the war; he saw that II would bring
all his plans to the ground. It has
always been understood that the trea-
ties had been actually dra wn. though.
of course. neither signed nor ratified.
Their terms have never been made
public. but more than shrewd guess
AT them can be made. Indeed. several
recent treaties by German writer's. as
we'll as by French and English, have
given outlines OF these planned agree
ments In a way that almost carries
official authority, We refer to such
writings as those of Sir Harry Johns
ton. so competent to deal with Africa.
Paul Rohrhach. Of Munich: w. Morton
Fullerton and NJ. Andre Cheradame.
Putting together the intimations from
these and other sources, the last num-
Der OF the New Europe epitemizes the
treaties which were offered to Ger
many.
She was to be recognized as the
sole concessionaire'' of the Bagdad
Railroad. France and England were
to bind themselves to build no COM
petng lines. In Africa, German pos
sessions were to be greatly extended.
A good part OF the French Congo was
10 be given to Germany. with a sort
of right OF presumption. over the Bel
gian Congo. Thus hundreds OF thou
sands of square miles in Africa more
than the German government then
controlled or now asks to have re-
turned to her were put within her
reach by the methods of peaceful di-
plomacy. or course, France and Bel
GUM were to have their compensa-
tons. Sir Harry Johnston intmates
that Metz and the French-speaking
portions of Lorraine were to be given
TO France, and that Luxembourg was
to be in customs union with Bel
GUM. In the whole arrangement.
Furthermore, England and Russia
were to win certain territorial and po-
Iitical concessions. 1t cannot be as
serted that all the details can yet be
stated with precision; but 1t is beyond
reasonable doubt that comprehen-
Fsive diplomatic settlement was about
ready for Germany's acceptance when
she broke off everything and seized
the sword.-New York Evening Post.