Washington Journal., 1917-02-09
The Royal Road to Peace
Alliance of Britain, France, Germany and the United States
By ROBERT STEIN
By ROBERT STEIN.

PNcpiNf ~ Nldl liN WlitC DOpuidllOi VI NiiC
British empire is destined shortly to exceed
that of Germany. Then Britain's fears of
Germany will be at an end, and then she can
without hesitation agree to Germany's demands
Ill regard to Turkey. The problem is how to
afford the necessary security to Britain till
me hnds it in her own colonies.
This would be accomplished by the offer of
alliance of the United States to Britain,
France and Germany, practically amounting
to Anglo-American reunion-for no sober adj
vocate of such reunion ever dreamt of any
other form of reunion than a defensive alli-
ance. The Sc million white people of the
British empire, reinforced by the 104 millions
of the United States, would constitute a total
OF 100 million English-speaking people, for
ever invincible AT the same time the Ger
man-Americans, if they will make up their
anlnds, are numerous enough, in combination
with their sympathizers, to make sure that the
alliance would not be employed to the detri-
ment OF Germany. If even without American
support a large body of public opinion in
Britain was willing i'll 1913 to give Germany
a free hand in Turkey. it is practically certain
that all hesitation on that score will disappear
as soon as the definite prospect of Anglo
American reunion has opened to Britain the
avenue to perpetual security. 1--WE are fight
ng for life" says one British statesman after
mother, in the belief that Britain can remain
4 leading nation only through Germany's de-
eat. Several prominent Britons have been
;andid enough to say that this is the only
eason why they are fighting. If Britain
ere reinforced by the United States, she
would not have to fight for life.
in a word, as soon as America declares her
Willingness to make this offer of alliance to
he other three Great Democracies after the
var, Britain will know that she can safely
make to Germany the one concession which
he latter deems essential to her continuance
$ a great power-an adequate sphere of in
luence. Britain will have no further motive
0 break up the alliance Of Germany, Austria
hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey, soon to be
ompleted by the accession Of Greece, which
would mean the gradual re-Hellenization Of
large part of Asia Minor and of all the
ireek-speaking islands. OF course, Britain
ould not enter into alliance with Germany
Mess France were included. A large body
t public opinion in the United States would
axe the same attitude. But when the United
states, Britain and France on the one hand,
nd the United States, Britain and Germany
N the other, are ready for the alliance, the
mediation OF the two forner would soon bring
bout the long-debated compromise between
rance and Germany by which their disputes
would be permanently settled, enabling them
o become allies.
This is the way to stop the war. Britons,
Frenchmen and Germans now know that they
are equals. When they know that they are
soing to be allies, they will not commit the alb
urdity of continuing the fight.
This is also the surest road to disarmament,
he surest means to crush militarism." 1t
as been calculated that one-tenth OF the arma-
tents OF Britain, France, Germany and the
United States would suffice TO enforce peace,
II they were united and no rival ornaments
n existence. Germany's so-called militarism
will quickly disappear when it is no longer
an absolute necessity.
Replies to Objections.
(1) III the alliance is to amount to any
thing, it means that we shall run the risk of
having TO engage in fights in which we are
not concerned.
Ansa0er. There would be no fights. A
iouse will not fight an elephant. No nation
lights unless it sees a chance of winning
Against the Quadruple Alliance there would
De no chance. Where is the material out OF
which a rival alliance could be built? AS the
-Four Great Democracies would have absolute
control of the sea, the only possible counter
ombination would be one consisting OF the
wo great land powers, Russia and China
With the addition Of Japan, in case the Sea
Of Japan can be closed by mines. Even that
continuation would have no chance against
the Quadruple Alliance,
(2) If the Quadruple Alliance held thc
globe at its mercy, it would tyrannize over
he other nations,
Ans7cer. Latin America, at least as far a.
he equator, Is at the mercy Of the United
states. Why don't we tyrannize over ii? Be.
cause we have no taste for tyrannizing. Arc
we going to acquire that taste when we ar,
allied with our three parent nations, Of thu
same blood as ourselves? Win they tyran
nize when each Of them has all it covets
imagine specific acts of tyranny, and yot
viii see how impossible they are. Doubles.
he -Four Great Democracies would insist
for example, that. equal rights shall be granted
to the Jews in all lands. Would that b.
tyranny? There might be interventions like
ours in Cuba; commissions (unaccompanie
by any armed force, for that would not b.
necessary would see to it that f~actienal quar-
rels were settled not by fighting hut by homes
elections. Would that be tyranny? The onl,
people that would reel the pinch would be the
crooks. the cliques, the instructive despois
every honest. public spirited man anywhere
OH earth would find his struggle for good
government made easier under the egis Of the
-Four Great Democraeies.
(3) The four allies would fight among
themselves.
1nssoer. Our states did use bullets instead
OF ballots to decide 4 certain issue, but we
can not imagine that this will ever happier
again. Up to 1870 the Germans we're perpetu-
ally fighting among themselves, but any one
that would suggest the possibility of civil wal
in Germany now would be sent to the mad
house. Neither Britain nor France nor the
United States has any ambition to increase
its territory, because they have enough to as.
sure their rank as leading powers forever
When Germany has her sphere of influence
assuring her rank as a leading power, wher
degradation aud yassalage no longer stare her
in the face, she will have no motive to cut
any encircling. strangling net with the sword
When the -Four Great Democracics have spent
a few years in union and have tasted the
luxury and economy OF security and omni,
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