New-York tribune., 1918-08-04
War WEAKNESS Gives Way
- Determination to De-
feat Germans
pacihsts Now in
Dark Background
League of Nations Policy
Advanced by Wilson
Meets General Favor
By Arthur S. Draper
lspec,ci Cabis to The Tribune)


-,,--sb; 1918 by T7le Tribune Association.
LONDON, Aug 3-At the close OF
four years of fighting peace seems
rsmote, although the long period of
.trife has produced a tremendous
amount of war weariness, suffering and
sacrifice. Disappointment bows the
neople Of every belligerent European
country. but on the eve OF the fifth
year Of the struggle the momentum
~ war is still strong. The enthusi-
asu. freshness and determination Of
America. however, have revived the
Allied peoples and governments.
Within week Lord Lansdowne pub
lisbed another letter which serves to
illustrate the effect the long struggle i
has had OF a cer-ain class Of the Brit
ish people, a small class, it is hardly
necessary 10 state. They would end
wars the same way other wars have
ended and trust TO Pl evidence for the I
future. Their policies are those of the
opportunists. shorts GIFTED, sometimes
selfish. They want peace because a
prolongation Of the war means radical (
changes in the old social order of
things and in their financial status;
they argue that continued war means /
further bloodshed and the destruction /
Of national and individual strength. T
No Place for Pacifists
All their arguments are based on .he /
idea that the war must end indecisively +
snd that the armies will continue dead
locked. In every belIigereat country
there is group of this kind. France
bas one, so has Germany. But Europe /
has no place for those who would end |
the war because they personally desire
to maintain the old socia! order.
During the last year the paciists rail-
lied to President Wilson because they
thought they saw in him a quick way
cut Of the war, bu. they abandoned him
when they found he would not subor-
dinate deeds TO words. The league Of
nations policy leaves the pacifists cold
because 1t means change in the en-
emy's spirit which can only coma
through further lighting. AS it means
the discrediting OF militarism, it means
prolongation OF the lighting, and
therefore the paciists no longer sup
port the policy.
for tne same reason many followers
OF Lansdowne find nothing in the
Ieague OF nations idea. There is a
sharp distinction between the Lans-
Go"ne groups attitude and that OF the
oGlelsn munitions workers who threat
ened to put down their tools last week
me Lansdowne supporters hold diff
Ierent views from the supporters OF
Sean Longuet, who this week became a
.eauer o. the majority Socialist sec
rOh N france. The British labor and
.a .sshcn majority Socialists are NOT
'e"uy 1oT peace on any terms.
Enemy Hard Pressed
uermany IS being pressed hard mill
.siL! Sne IS being pinched econoni-
caNy. She Is filed with financial wor-
feS Germany VIII soon make hid
.or peace, but she VIII not state her
sefms until she mas set the stage 70 the
oess Of her ability. She manages her
geace onenslves with the same eve 10
useat winch marks her great military
-slaG9Vres' -:.a and the danger is that,
;. s..h Vne Ierman military menace SEEM
.nsly over, and with the hardships Of
sao'ner winter ahead, the Allies will
ss surely tempted when Germany next
sseSIs basis for negotiations.
49, dIi.s"ai pressure has brought about
ca1 caaaca1 changes IN the political life Of
a.sn'shy' hut the spirit Of her rulers
s.alaihs unchanged despite all sacri
r rvses ana all disbursement. Before
p. oen 'urNed the tide at the Marine the
;auicais and Socialists showed sullen
,,..sallon n. IN Relchstag debates, and it
sas. ~ss necessary for yon Hertlin. to
.sa .s.e concessions TO them. Now that
~ iih:lltarlsts nave been thrown on
The qetensiye, II will be necessary for
ss .se imperial Chancellor to make fur
so,.o or, concessions, and there will follow
aims. 4'''oo 1-on' 0i wax
Gu. o.. the point to remember is that
,.;nnany's ,.;n rulers-the miIitarists-are
tn ,aa o. the same old opinions; that
an. Il seel That they have been playing
Back Wilson's Policies
nerve nesween The militarist Rarty Of Ger
.nur.x N'Su tNere lS prdcClcally no
Enlpar1 Enronp among any OF the other
ssupsan as.s,n oelligerents- and the peace
solasaag-prlce solsa party, is a great body of
m. M moderate opinion which is fight
.eer. ~. deals, which doesn't care about
sor ssrr.'s9ry, which wants an end Of war
nska Ms a.! time and which ia prepared to
~, Iorther sacrifices.
tsn,s. dictionaries, with their oppor-
uns. PoNcles dependent upon the fort
sSs s' o' the battlefield, no more reflect
pse;sIp.n se sspin'on y, Of this group than do the
ooiies isn, x This group supports Wilson's
Isasr.. ol force 20 the utmost and
peace. ''o'is 70 preserve world
,.ssa America need have no fear Of a
en- provided she clings to her pres
A,. poslcy. Americas war aims have
~. s group something for which they
"a, Wspared to enter fifth year OF
diss,ns.A ana sacrifice. Peace seems far
sbous ous America need not worry
pu,ss Aansdowne letters, labor dis-
sN'ss Or Longaes victories