The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-06
Q of Alsce-Lorraine.

the case of Alsace-Lorraine. MT. Lloyd-George, in swallowing the re- yised version, climbed down from the internationalization of Constantlnople to leaving the Turk in possession or it. MT. Wilson, who, in his reply to the Pope, had declared that II Ger many did not democratise her con stitution the United States would smash her, climbed down with the words, Neither do we presume to suggest to Germany any alteration or modification of her institutions"
 These concessions seem so sign1f1- cant, and yet any sort of definite war aims must see so clear and reason able in contrast with the crude raVlngs they replace, that we are for the moment cheated into believing that the Germans must think them as moderate as they seem to us. Let us not deceive ourselves. Take three items from the Labour war aims by way of sample.
 1. The dismemberment of the Ot- toman Empire decayed as it is, may appear a mere make-weight in Cam berwell; it will be a matter of fighting
 
 2. Alsace-Lorrane is the very trophy of victory in the war between France and Germany; and the sugges- tion of a plebiscite does not alter that situation in the least: for what that situation in the least; for what Frenchman with an ounce of fight left in him would consent to such plebiscite being taken until the Ger mans had evacuated the territory and left the inhabitants free to vote? It is hard enough for Frenchman to consent even to voluntary evac- uation of the north of France; all the pugnacity and pride in him must cry out, "We shall not accept your offer to evacuate; you shall go as you came, fighting every inch of the way or running"
 3. The proposal of a League of Nations protectorate for the African | colonies does not touch those colonies which the Union of South Africa has taken: and we dare not ask General Shuts to give them back to Germany. I could add to this list of fighting points but these are enough. The Germans have replied that the terms
  and that we are not victorious yet. And they are quite right. The sins of which this war is the punishment are not yet expiated either in Germany or here; and there is nothing for 1t 1 but to set. our teeth, tighten our belts. and go through with it.
 Nevertheless there are incalculable factors in the case. One is the revolt of the human conscience against war When everything that can be said for war has been said a thousand times; when to the wretched plea that the distribution of our wealth was so bad the condition of our people so poor and our public sloth and carelessness 1 so disastrous that an iron Scourge was needed to drive us to do better, we add the less disgraceful claim that pride, honor, courage, and defiance, of death flame up in war into a re- liners fire, yet nothing can conceal the blasting folly, the abominable wickedness, the cruelty and slavery with which war wreaks Life's ven geance on those who will respond to no gentler or holier stimulus. In the mdist of our state paraphrases of the heroics of Henry V. our eye lights on some name of youthful promise in the Roll of Honor, and sees suddenly through the splendid mask of victory to the grinning skull beneath. It is this incalculable factor that makes the Russian Revolution so formidable.
 War Against Thrones.
 l Yet there again I must sorrowfully 1 dispeI the illusion that the Russian revolution makes for peace. Our pa triots, always seizing the wrong end of the stick, are in full cry against !" a separate peace" by Russia. What they would dread if they had any grasp of the situation is a separate 1 war by Russia, fight to a finish not