The Washington herald., 1917-06-25
HUNS PLAN EMPIRE
IN CENTRAL EUROPE
George Soule Analyses Motives Be
hind European Struggle.

Recent dispatches have presented
the danger Of . mid-European empire
under Prussian Domination. stretching
from the Baltic to the Bosporus. and
splitting Europe by an aggressive and
military power and self-sufficient in
economic resources. says George
Soule. associate editor OF the New
Republic In the Philadelphia Press.
Such an empire would give sUcure
foundation for the future imperialist
capitalist autocracy believing in q
divine mission TO impose its rule on
the earth. IL must at all costs be
broken up. II its destruction demands
a long war involving the complete
the spending Of ali orr resources, we we
must make the sacrifice.
Before coming TO a decision that
such a necessity exists, however we
should be more than fatuous II we
with little more attention to its
principle and details.
Il Is very simple to say that since
mid Europe is Prussia's aim, we
must, in order to prevent its consum-
the peace. SimplicIties like that,
however, ignore the realities OF
political designs and methods. How
does Germany hope to cement the pro-
posed hegemony? What are the diff
ficulties In her way, and how can they
whatever their astuteness, have not
proved themselves super -Machiavellis.
It Is no more difficult to analyze their
methods than to discover their pur-
poses.
Aim Of Central Powers.
The German evangelist of the mid
European faith is Friedrich Nau-
was written since the beginning Of
the war for home consumption, in an
attempt to convert Germans and the
other peoples Of the central powers
to the idea.
Nanm3pn. ,,II ,,,. the. therefore; may be trusted
project, and to reveal by his arga-
ments the tactics to be employed in
its execution. The first striking
feature of Naumann's book-to
reader of Washington dispatches-is
that he does not put forward his sug-
gestion as a scheme Of imperialistic
aggression, but as a measure OF pro-
lection.
The central powers, fighting to-
gether against overwhelming odds,
are In danger of being crushed-if
not In this war, in some future one.
II Germany and Austria are to re-
main world powers, they must put
their house in order. So runs his ar
gument. He plays on the chord OF
the encirclement.
this was before the revolution
France, Italy, and the British navy
on the other; nothing can withstand
these in the long but absolute unity
within. I'VE have sat together in
sUrst te9nfSar ee9nEmic prison, dS,sSs we have
to live together" He pleads with
much subdued misgiving and with ali
his might for full cooperation be-
tween Germany and Austria Hun
gary, two proud, sensitive, and par
tally competitive empses. For he
recognizes immense difficulties in the
He hopes that the union would ac-
crete some Of the smaller neighbor-
ing nationalities-not by conquest. but
He Is aware Of the touchy nationalism
and economic selhshness of the Mag
yars. He does not even dare sug-
gest free trade between Austria and
Germany. He names the difficulties
inherent In all the petty tealousies
argues that cooperation will benefit
all He knows he is dealing with
men of intense prejudice and little
mutual good will. So, in answering
all ODleCtlOnS ne mas 10 play MS
trump card-which is always the fear
Of imperial Russia and the British
| blockade.
A Union for Defense.
No one who ever read history Is
| ignOrant OF the traditional policy of
| Prussia, the method by which Bis
marck united the present German en-
pfre. Creating common enemies in
order to heal dissensions at home,
and in order to establish the political
supremacy of the strongest military
state-that is the successful and time
honorcd method in Germany.
In Germany itself the Russian reyo-
luton has heartened the anti-Impe-
riallsts and radicals. The entry of
the United States into the war on
the basis Of the Presidents Senate
address has made possible a new ORR
| entation OF the allied encirclement.
We must now face the central
powers with a sword in one hand and
| an olive branch in the other. We
! must say. "If you continue to fol-
low the leadership of imperialist Prus-
sia, 1t will be war to the bitter end.
But II you force her to abandon her
imperialist designs and relinquish her
conquered territory, we will in turn