Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-29


movement exeped in the Hague tribunal and OF
the international to protect small countries like
the operation the triple and other alliances agencies
Of both peace and we now the better to con-
league to fight for peace" if need be.
At the outset we should guard ourselves against
does not involve the idea of using the absurd PROPOSE
ton Of using war to prevent war The proposition is that
or SO allowed opportunity for hearing and the urging OF
o TO e Mess there existed to force this
posponemen Of war any agreement would be as much
Of Germany to regard and
ton of strong to enforce the OF
De o
no more weight than the Hague tribunal had in connection
back it beakabe to force against any
power breaking the peace
Der of force against any of their number
breaking the would virtually mean in effect pledge
to aid with armies and navie nation against
nation combination of nations making such attack
That is entirely different proposition from union of
already have in the Hague tribunal It would be worse than
idle to duplicate in effect the international agreement which
is by the Hague tribunal That is another rea
for the conclusion that the proposition would involve
the idea Of force to prevent war
peace consider neigeny the question whether
we should become partner in such project whether
should form alliance like that proposed by Germany
with Russia and Japan on the one hand with England
France Italy and the other siding with Britain
whether we should continue to promote our own peace as
nation Individually aided alone by preparedness
You have read in columns the speech by former
Bryce of England expressing the opinion that
America longer remain isloaed The for this
assertion that every country including the United States
claims safety is threatened by the spirit of anti
But does this to democracy in Europe really
stitue valid why we should endanger our own peace
by the lew @ I0y Of snd %
substitution Of democracy for Czarsm show that all Europe
II the aemen of Lord rerane as
to be true of the old world To meet that it
would be for reagnment of the European pow
We brought face to face with the fact that
Kaiser would bring into union the auocratc rulers of the
old wordthe of Germany, Austria Turkey and
England France italy, and all the other powers of Europe
whose existence would be threatened by the Japourco
The assumption that such realignment of European
powers possible rests the suppostion that Russia and
the Balkans that led them engage the present If
Russian sympathy for Serbs led the Gar into the
in the future? Is safe to assume that Russia will aban
don them to their fate at the hands of Germany and Austra
tcpation of in opposition Russia the Balkans,
will not that factor continue to exist after the war?
If either hypothesis is correct then both sides must ad
therefore wholly and absolutely inexcusable. this
excuse predictions of both Napoleon the
present Emperor William materiaze the danger Of
ultimate Slav exploitation of southeastern Europe.
The first conclusion that would reach regarding the
effort draw the United States into league enforce peace
Our second conclusion that if it should necessary
membership in such league would be futile to prevent
another European since the would be largely
racial dependent upon the play of popular sympathy in shap
ing the of European governments and consequently
wholly beyond American control
Our third conclusion is that under such circumstances
the moral influence of the United States alone would not be
effective influence and only the possession of large army
and navy would suffice to make our voice effective as men,
bers of an alliance in sitting any European tumult.
Our fourth conclusion is that natural sequence of
what thus been shown the assertion Of Lord Bryce that
world league enforce would not for America
enangng alliance is not well founded On the contrary
it would be constant menace to our peace
Our fifth conclusion from what has thus far appeared
is that America will always be in position to exercise the
greatest possible influence in promoting in Europe
through control not nation but individuals, of
finance and the sinews of war.
sixth conclusion is that since the American govern
ent not control individual finance and private industry
factor in preventing forcing government
should always free of alliances which would tie it's hands,
and effect force it to aid with army and navy if need be-
the attacked party and to fight combination of
that went to after had joined other nations in
warning them not to go to
Our seventh conclusion is that speaking from military
and naval standpoint geographical isolation will be
of the chief factors in national defence
and therefore in ability to avoid great foreign