New-York tribune., 1918-08-30
Friendless

"Why has Germany no friends?" asks
Vora0drts the Berlin Socialist newspaper.
The question is merely rhetorical. Vor-
aodrts knows the answer. But the truth
can be told now in Germany only by
indirection and in cautious instalments.
Germany has no friends because she
deserves none. She is psychologcally
incapable of making friends. She rec
ognzes no sanction but that of force.
In her dealings with other peoples she
wants to compel submission, not to Gre
ate friendship or gratitude.
DR.. Muhlon knew what he was talking
about when he said:
The Prussia of to-day can only SOW
deeper hate among the European peoples
and aggravate that hate into obses-
sion. She will steal everything-every-
thing she can lay her hands on-and will
hold fast to it, She will give away only
what she attaches no Importance to and
will make such gifts at the expense of
others She will never take her foot off
the neck Of the conquered. She will force
every alien civilization to reverence her
barbarity. She believes only in the strong
fist at home and abroad She recognizes
no power on earth but the power of COM
pulsion.
Germany began the war with mon
strous crime-the invasion Of Belgium.
She has prosecuted the war with ruth
less disregard of civilized restraints. She
has persistently violated international
law. She has ignored the rights of neu-
trail states. Who can point in the last
four years to a single act Of the German
government in which there was the faint
est glmmer of unselfshness, highmind
edness, generosity or even decency?
Why should any country befriend Ger
many or venture to trust her? At Brest-
Litovsk great opportunity was offered
to the Germans to rehabilitate their
credit before the world by manifesting
a certain sincerity and political worldly
wisdom in dealing with PROSTATE Russia
Had Won Kuhlmann lived up to the no
indemnities, no annexations declaration
of the Reichstag, other nations might
have been led to believe in Germany's
repeatedly and loudly expressed desire
Tor an honorable peace.
But rapacity-the primal Prussian in
stinct-triumphed at Brest-Litovsk over
every other consideration. Because she
was weak and fatuous Russia was
three allies were put off with few
sweepings from the table. The Turks and
the Bulgarians have shown their resent
ment at Germany's s. arrogance and greed.
The Austrians and Hungarians despse
their German masters. There is no rea-
son to doubt the report from Switzer-
land that the recent German defeats in
France have been received in Austria
Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey with sui
len satisfaction.
And there is Spain-the only impor-
tant neutral which has been until recent
ly measurably pro- German (for Sweden
fell away as soon as Germany exposed
her hand in Finland). Berlin has repaid
Spain's consideration by sinking 20 per
cent of the Spanish merchant marine
And when Spain threatens to seize in
termed German tonnage in order to re-
place further losses Germany begins at
once to scowl and threaten.
The Germans have no friends because
friendship implies mutual respect and
mutual good feeling. But to the infatu-
ated Prussian every other nation is only
an oyster which his sword must open.
Therefore he now stands alone in an ever
widening circle of enemies.