The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-06-10
LUST FOR
WORLD RULE
WAR CAUSE
Secretary Lansing Asserts in a
Speech That Germany Prom.
Used to Cease Slaughter
TREACHERY is EVIDENT
Ambassador Bernstorff Appre:
ciated Worthlessness of
Nations Pledges

Schenectady, N. T., June l0.-Prus
sianism and the idea OF induring peace
among nations can never be brought
into harmony; compromise cannot ev
en- be considered, Robert Lansing,
secretary of state, declared today ir
an address as honorary chancellor oi
Union college for 1918. Instance after
J, instance from his own experience al
the head of Americas foreign office
were cited to prove his point, because
he asserted. Americans, even those
intellectually equipped have but vague
ideas OF the attitude which made war
against Prussianism possible"
1T is q fact not generally known
said Secretary Lansing, that within
six weeks the Imperial government had
in the case of Sussex, given this gov
ernment its solemn promise that 1t
would cease ruthless slaughter upon
the high seas, Count Bernstcrtf, ap'
precisting the w0rthlessness of the
promise, asked the Berlin foreign OF.
flee to advise him in ample time be.
fore the campaign of submarine muir.
der. was renewed, in order to notify
the German merchant ships in Ameri-
can ports to destr0ps their machinery,
because he anticipated that the renew.
al OF that method of warfare would,
in all probability, bring the United
States into the war.
eluntnsss Of Messaes. 81
= "H0w we'll the ambassador knew the
character OF his government and how
frank Ne w1s.ss4Ie asked for the. In
formation without apology or indir.
ection. The very bluntness Of his mes.
sage shows ne Was sure his superior
would not take 0ffense at the assun-
ption that their word was valueless
and had only been given to gain time
and that, when IN increase Of Ger.
.many's submarine fleet was warrant
ed the promise would be broken with.
out hesitation or scompunction. What
q commentary on Bernstorff's estimate
of the sense OF honor and good faith
of his government.
Spirit Of Bad Faith.
'In view Of his spirit of hypocrisy
and bad faith, manifesting an entire
lack Of conscience we ought now to
be astonished that the Berlin foreign
never permitted q promise or treaty
engagement to stand in the way Of a
course OF action which the German
government deemed expedient.
Il need not cite as proof Of this
fact the flagrant violations of the
treaty neutralizing Belgium and the
recent treaty Of Brest-Litovsk This
iiscreditable characteristic of Ger.
man policy was accepted by German
diplomats as matter of course and
as a natural, II not a praiseworthy,
method of dealing with other govern
ments."
The causes Of war, Mr.. Lansing
said, were simply the German desire
for world dominion.
Central Thought.
"That was and is the central
thought of Prussianism." he said. 1T
excited the cupidity Of the governing
and wealthy classes of the empire. 1t
daztled with its anticipated glories
and by its promise of boasted racial
superiority the German millions who
we're to be the instruments Of achieve.
ment. With advocation and zeal wor-
thy Of better cause they turned their
energy into those channels which
would aid the ruling class.
1--WE must go on with the war. There
is no other way. This task must not
be left half done. We must not trans
NIT to posterity legacy Of blood and
misery. We may in this great com
flict go down into the valley Of sha-
dows because our foe is powerful and
Injured to war We must be prepared
to meet disappointment and temporary
reverse, but we must, with American
spirit, rise above them, with courage
GUS hearts we must go forward until
theis war is won"
A military atmosphere permeated
the annual commencement of Union
college today. Secretary Of state Rob
ert Lansing and General Peyton C..
March, chief of staff of the United
States army recipients of the honor
ary degree of doctor of laws, were
escorted by soldiers to the First Pres
byterian church where the exercises
were held. Thirty-seven members of
the graduating class were absent on
account of military duties.
ON INSPECTION TOUR
n.I ne rn~%.n1 - vr:~:A A.