New-York tribune., 1917-06-01
Allies Aims Should Be Stated


ton 10 our enemies or material for those IN
this country who are disafected that they
are indicated: il is rather with the idea OF
enlsting the mind of the editor Of The Tro-
une in the difficult task of formulating pro-
gramme. al once honorable and practical, that
will be acceptable to the general mind and
heart of America.
We are in this war, and we could not have
kept out of it, Mere motives of prudence
and caution if there had beer no considera-
tions Of honor and spirit demanded that we
join England and France; demanded that we
strike back at Germany. For If We had not
armed we must eventually have succumoed.
We will be a military power. even allowing
for all possible blunders at Washington, IN
at least year; enough of a military power
TO resist invasion successfully. at least, even
If we do not make ourselves felt quickly
enough to turn the tide against Germany
Our entrance into the war is already justify
ing itself by guaranteeing that prepared
ness" which is our safety. But beyond and
above the consideration of safety, which is
neither quite victory nor yet quite defeat
we are pledged to the defeat of Germany.
Or. at the very least. the defeat of the Ger
man spirit of aggression.
Sufficiently Defeated"
But when is Germany to be considered
sufficiently defeated SO that the Entente pow
crs and America are willing to give her terms
and try 10 live with her amcably on this
earth again? Is there a point at whlcr
France and England are willing TO give peace
short of an absolute crushing of Germany
Are we to understand that we are enlisted
until the Allied armies are able 10 dictate
peace on German ground? Are we 70 under
stand that France and England will be VIII
ing 20 call il war and quit with Belgium
restored. Northern France evacuated. ou'
Asace-Lorraine still a German province
Must we stick until Poland, part donated by
revolutionary Russia, part torn from Ter
many. part wrested from Austria, is again
state?
This war. with regard TO its objectives has
certain concrete and physical phases and GER
tain spiritual and sentimental phases. Eng
land must have Belgium restored, not only
because German Belgium concretely and
phvsicallv threatens her heart, but also be
cause the Engish-n their present mood
are outraged at me rape of Belgium. France
as a concrete and physical thing, must eXpeI
the invader and safeguard her frontiers for
the future; spiritually and sentimentally she
wants her lost provinces. America as con
crete and physical thing. safeguards the lives
and property of her citizens, again and again
attacked. by entering the war; as spiritual
thing she fights for democracy and humanity
, against the beast.
A Plea for Essential Union
But in the end all these different spiritual
and sentimental views must be correlated and
fused and reduced TO physical symbol and
stated What satisfies the spirit of one ally
may make little appeal to the extra physical
apparatus Of another. There must be ADJUST
ments and understandings clear and definite
understandings; and the time for them is
now. before either victory is assured or de-
feat is certain. We may well trust ourselves
20 the military guidance Of our allies But
we must also know how far they expect us
TO lend our lives. TO their complicated poilt-
ical plans we must know to what extent they
themselves are in agreement. The demand is
not in the nature Of disorganizing appeal;
il is plea for essential union.
With the disorganization Of Russia, pos
siblv permanent. and the entrance OF Amer
lea we have a new war, Of character essen
tiallv changed: the rulers Of France and Eng
land owe il TO their own people, and TO US
from whom they expect so much, to deter
mine and state this new character, to nX tine
physical aims for which we fight, to dlst
from the non-Teutonic worlds spirit a con
cretion OF motive Nor will this be without
its effect upon tho common enemy.
Brooklyn. May 80. 1917. d. K. NJ.