New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-14
Join the Entente!

The Tribune was the hrst American
neusnaper to urge an immediate military
alliance between the United States and
the Entente powers. We have argued that
IL this country is to fight Germany on the
issue of American and neutral rights at
sea It ought to take advantage OF every
circumstance which may help IN reducing
Germany to that state of physical lmpo-
tence in which alone there will be any GER
tainty of German acknowledgment of
the sanctity of international safeguards
and international law.
We have been criticised for applying
common sense to the military situation
which VIII confront us as soon az we come
to blows with Germany. Other voices have
been raised here in favor Of conducting a
localized, isolated, imitation war with the
Kaiser. This would suit his purposes ex-
actly. The more unlike war we make our
war in defence of American rights and
principles the better Germany will be sat
isfied with it.
We are confident that once the United
States finds itself engaged IN war with
Germany it will quickly decide to make
war on a rational military plan. we snail
make complete common cause with Ger
manv's other enemies, because military
considerations will drive us to take that
course. We shall do it, although many
Americans are averse to doing it, because
there will be nothing else in military
sense for US to do.
We are glad to reproduce below the
views on this subject of the writer VINO
for two years and half past has con-
tributed military criticism to The New
York Times" He speaks his mind freely,
unhampered by the petty commitments OIL
politics. He said in his column last Sun
day:
Another point for consideration is that we
cannot enter the war alone. "nether We
liz. IL or whether we do not, if we declare
war on Germany or she on US, we become
an. ~ the Allies To conduct the war all
bv ourselves. without regard TO the general
nisn of the Entente, ignoring them COM
nletely. would be the safest and surest
method Of suicide. Moreover, being at war
with Germany, we cannot sit idly py ano
watch others do our fighting while we con-
tinps 20 market our foodstuffs and war ma
+.4sIs. The situation created will be, 1t
must be admitted, anomalous. We shall not
be at one with the aspirations OF the varl-
Gus powers Of the Entente. That would De
meddling in the affairs Of Europe to an ex'
tent which our foreign policy does not per-
nit But nevertheless, the mere fact OF
declaration of war at once imposes upon
the people Of the United States the duty Of
seeing that Germany is defeated If we do
not want to accomplish that we shall not go
to war.
Our reason for seeing Germany defeated
will be that we have imposed upon our
selves the duty Of notifying not Germany
alone, but The world, that no nation is great
enough, even though she may hypnotic
herself into completely immoral condition,
10 cast aside all law, all agreements and
disrupt the entire fabric of international
law in which we are vitality concerned with
the other nations Of the world, without in
curing our displeasure and facing the pos
sibility of rupture Of friendly relations.
Our fight will be q fight not for our right
alone, but for the right OF the world as in
terpreted in the broader light of humanity.
II, then, we take the step, there cannot, in
reason, be any backing out until the curtain
is drawn on the final act of the great trag-
edy. We must, then. be one Of the present
Allies and play our part in conformity
with their military plans.
We do not know whether "The Times"
would be willing to admit into its editorial
columns so courageous and striking state
ment of true American policy in the event
Of war with Germany. Such statement
will be unpalatable TO many persons in
Washington. But it is inexorably logical.
It's logic Is the logic Of war. And it will
prevail when war comes, all academic hest
tations and reluctances 10 the contrary
notwithstanding.