The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1917-09-01
THE STUMBLING BLOCK

Peace would be welcomed by all the beligerents, but the
great stumbling block in its way is universal distrust of Ger
many. The popes proposals are not likely to satisfy our allies
and do not meet our views, but he could easily induce all those
engaged in war to discuss terms for ending it if he could con-
vince them that Germany could be trusted.
In London, Paris and Washington the German government
is regarded as unworthy of trust. AS long as the Hohenzol-
Terms, the Junkers and the Prussian military caste direct the
policy of the empire peace will last no longer than it suits
their wishes. What was done will be repeated until Germany
either conquers the world or changes her form of government
and foregoes her dream of world wide domination either vol
UNFAIRLY or by compusion.
This view of the situation is based on the undisputed rec
ord of Germanys ruthlessness and dishonor. When former
Ambassador Gerard met the German emperor at army head
quarters last year and protested against Germanys violations of
international law inflicted upon American citizens and prop
erty, the emperor replied that international law no longer ex-
listed. Submarine commanders were under orders not to OBJ
serve the rules of cruiser warfare, and the world knows how
they obeyed orders. There is no law of God or man that the
kaiser feels bound to respect.
Wilful violation of the rules of International law is a
cause for war. Belligerents can break these rules and violate
the customs of civilized warfare in fighting their recognized
foes. When one does so the other side can apply the lex
taliOnis," the law of reprisal. Wars can and have been fought
without quarter. The German emperor told his troops when
leaving for China in the days of the Boxer rebellion to take no
prisoners. The airship raids and bombardments of unfortified
English towns are contrary to international law, but the Eng
lsh have no redress except reprisals in kind, to which they
have not yet resorted.
Such outrages do not necessarily involve neutrals, but
when a neutral becomes the victim the cause of war arises.
If immediate disavowal and reparation are not made the
neutral must go to war out of self respect and in defense of
sacred rights. When the kaiser told Mr.. Gerard that interna-
tional law no longer existed he issued a challenge which the
United States was at last forced to accept.
What assurance can the pope give that the new treaties and
rrstatement of the principles of international law which he
suggests will not cease to exist whenever a Fohenzoll,rn again
SETS red? No treaty can be more sacred and binding than the
scrap of paper" which guaranteed the neutrality and ineg-
riy of Belgium. Peace with Germany is not enough. Means
fer enforcing it must be provided if the Eohenzollerns and the
Prussan militarss remain in Berlin.
AT the beginning of this war Imperial Chancellor Won Beth
mann Hollweg told the reichstag, on the fourth of August, 1914:
Necessity knows no law. Our troops have occupied LuXenl-
burg and perhaps are already on Belgium soil. Gentlemen,
that is contrary to the dictates of international law"
On the tenth of August, six days later, the kaiser, as Mr..
Gerard discloses, wrote to President Wilson, News having
been received that France was already preparing to enter Bel
GUM, etc" The kaiser lied to our president, evidently fearing
that the rape of Belgium might rouse America to take up arms
in defense of the weak. We were calmer than he thought
Can the pope expect us to accept any pledge that the kaiser
may give, knowing that he violated the treaty with Belgium
and then lied about it to our president?
The pope says that first of all the fundamental points for a
lasting peace must be that for the material force of arms be
substituted the moral force of right" This is our desire and
our chief aim in this war, but how can such a substitution be
made while the German government, which plunged the world
into this war, exists? It's plea of military necessity" will turn
any treaty into a scrap of paper" The pope bases his attempt
to restore peace on the promise that the German government
will respect its pledges in the future. Unfortunately, this as
sumption is not based on facts. The German government has
no respect for justice and equity.
Our own pro-Germans ask what right have we and our al
lies to dictate the form of government that Germany shall have.
If we win we shall ask pledges from the German people and
not from the HOhenzollerns. When England, Prussia and her
allies overthrow Napoleon at Waterloo and sent him to Helana
they dictated the form of government and the king that France
should have, and they claimed the right to do so for the sake
of the peace of the world. Germany may feel the force of this
precedent which she helped to establish a century ago.-New
York Commercial.
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