New-York tribune., 1917-12-23
A Gateway for
British Conquest

will only allude briefly to the grave
crises in domestic politics which sur
render of Belgium must produce in
Germany. The majority of the people
would not understand our abandonment
OF fruits that had long been in our
hand-the result of our tremendous,
bloody victory. The war will deprive
US of at least 900 900 men in the prime
Of life, and rob our industry of great
part Of our best workmen. The people
have a right to see their hopes realized,
and so there would be deep dissension
If they were disappointed. Moreover
our diplomatic failures in the last
twenty years have already had a very
bad effect among the people. and the
fear finds ever louder expression that
diplomacy will spoil what the sword
has won. This time. after such enor-
nous sacrifices, we cannot take the risk
Of such charges again being spread
abroad. We must achieve the war
aim which seems to every plain man to
be absolutely necessary. In Belgium
we really have to do not merely with
the smallest claims that can be justi-
fled militarily. but with questions that
are vital for the future of the German
people and the German Empire.
Anybody who, as | do. advocates with
complete conviction and energy the re-
tention of Belgium is also obliged to
0e quite clear about the difficulties and
objections which may have to be over
come in order thoroughly to justify
this energetic demand. shall not dis
cuss the views of those who dream that
the German government is bound by
the declaration made at the beginning
of the war that Germany will conduct
the war not for conquests. but only for
the protection Of the Fatherland.
The conquest of Belqi,un has sim
pin been forced uDon rs. and consld.
Grafton of future possibilities has led
70 the logical conclusion that we abso-
lutcly must demand the protection OF
Germany By the extension Of the Ger
man frontiers in the West. The OBJ
lection that we must keep Germany
en- unadulterated national state, and
that il would constitute "A weakening
of the national unity Of Germany il we
were TO take into Germany so and so
many millions of inhabitants of a coun-
try with a different language such OBJ
jections seem to me mere phrases.
Germdnu can remain German and
retain its German feellnG. II nc
drdW into Our sphere OF DO1Cer q
country which has been penetrated
thr0tGh and UtrOuQh bu. Gernldnic
tribes-fOr eUen the WGU0ons hare
been made French ontu bu time--dnd
II. NTH clear and sure dDDreciatiOn
of the facts. ne see TO IL that Ger
man intellect and German eHerGu
become domiciied ichere French IN
fuence has hitherto proCided for the
0dliici-Gtion OF the cottntrH.
Germany's tasks are, of course, great
and difficult. if Belgium submits and is
incorporated. But Germany is strong
enough. and il is to be hoped that, es-
pecially after this war. she will have
plenty Of efficient men TO do in Bel
gium, in a German sense, what un-
fortunately was not done in Alsace and
Lorraine. Surely we shall have learned
from the mistakes that were made, and
iCe shall neUer again hare recourse
to the Facilitating pollen of conciliq-
tiOn 1Uhich tCds so diSddUdntdqeOHs
not onlu M 4 AlSdce-L0rTume. but also
in Poland.
Of course, no people which has been
appointed 20 play creative part in the
history of the world will find doves
dropping already roasted into its
mouth. A people which. during the
war. has achieved such brilliant things
in the trenches, in the army command,
and in all branches of economic life.
will have forces enough at its disposal
TO solve the difficult. but as-uredly not
insuperable, problems Of i-4ce.