New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-21
Why 1t Failed

plain. It has failed because it sought to
prepare the way for a discussion between
TWO sets of nations which are fighting
war on a wholly different basis. 1t failed
,evond all else because the alliance against
Germany is primarily an alliance to pre-
vent the destruction of civilization by
force. 1t failed because while the force
10 DESTROY remained in existence and the
German will to use that force endured
mistaken peace by negotiation was neces-
sarily impossible.
If Great Britain were fighting solely to
possess German colonies; if France had
entered the war simply to regain Alsace-
Lorraine; if Russia were animated merely
Nv territorial ambition; if the United
States had material detectives, then, on
he present situation in the war, this
would be an appropriate moment for dis
cussion. But Russia entered the war to
save Serbia, assaulted by Austria; France
entered the war because she was invaded
attacked; England entered the war be-
cavse France was threatened with de-
struction and Belgium was invaded. The
chief purpose of the English and the
French and the Russians was to prevent
Germany from dominating Europe by
means that were abhorrent and for pur-
poses destructive of European liberty
The nations fighting Napoleon often
made peace with their great enemy dur
ing the period in which Napoleonic ambi-
ton did not seek Continental mastery
but when the nations of Europe recog-
nized that temporary truces with Napo-
leon only invited new attacks, then they
handed together and adopted as a plat
form the elimination of Napoleon as the
necessary condition Of peace. They pro-
claimed that they had no intention to dis
member France, and at the end of long
war they left France substantially with
the boundaries of 1889. Now the situa-
ton as to Germany is not different. 1t is
impossible to make peace with a nation
which regards war as an extension OF
policy and affirms the right to use mill
tarv efficiency to promote national aspira'
tions at the expense Of neighbors. 1t is
impossible to make peace when peace with
such a nation means but period In which
new efficiency will be sought to make sue
cessful new attack.
The difficulty with all negotiations and
all proposals for peace now grows out of
the fact that the real issue of the war is
rot concerned with territory, with colo
MES. with "places in the SUM-" The world
has taken arms against Germany because
the Germans have adopted faith and a
policy perilous to all the nations of the
world and destined to remain perilous as
. long as it holds the German people and
"A lne' GefTldN ullliu III III
1t is amazing to see how completely this
condition has embodied itself in the minds
of all the people of all the nations at wal
with Germany. No war WEAKNESS, ne
disappointment, no suffering, has failed
TO obscure the vision of the simple anc
plain people Of the nations at war of this
fact. If the Germans can do in Belgium
what they have done and escape the con
sequences, then militarism is fastened
upon the world, then we shall all have t.
take arms against the morrow when the
German will come again, and, without hav
ing conquered US, yet will have in fact con
demned the world to adopt the German
system and TO live under German condi
tons.
The Germans entered this war as maj
embarks upon an investment. A shor
f1bt. a speedy victory, vast indemnity
new pogsessions-these were the lures tina
led the German on with 1870 fresh in hi
mind. Already the investment has proven
n fatal error. Whatever happens, Ger
many can only harvest loss and she ma!
Re ruined. She will be ruined II she is no
able now 10 escape a protraction Of th'
war. She will be ruined more completely
than any Of the nations which are nov
fighting her, because greater burdens arr
laid upon her q proportion to her re