The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1918-05-31
Why We Are At War With
Germany
BY Ephraim Douglas Adams, Executive
Head, History Department, Leland
Stanford Junior University, California
WE FIGHT FOR GOOD FAITH

of Peace can be built up.% DANES
Bryce.) Good faith between nations,
as between men, ia the one and only
safeguard from a return to barbarlsm.
Without it brute force, sheer might,
must rule. Without it there is no
security 10 human relationship Sc
curty, even, for life itself. To keep
ones word, when once given, that is
the evidence of the progress of civil
zation, and the test OF it.
Hence the case Of Belgium becomes
the single greatest German offense
against civilization In this war. At
first, 10 our American ignorance of
world conditions, we did not see this.
We do see it now; more and more we
realize that until the crime against
Belgium is atOned for, there can be
no peace, and no hope Of world at
peace.
What are the facts? BY treaties
signed in 1915, and again 10 1881, and
still again in 1889, this last revision
being in effect in 1914, it was agreed
Belgium shall form perpetually
neutral state. The five powers guar
antee to it this perpetual neutrality.
as also the inviolability of its terri
tory" These five powers wereAustria,
France, Great Britain, Russia and
Prussia, BY such treaties the neutral
state was pledged TO defend in arms
the neutrality OF its territory; and
each of the great powers pledged
itself not only not to march troops
into or through the neutral state, but
also to aid her, 10 case her territory
were violated
The world, thinking no nation so
base as to break its word, was COM
pletely taken by surprise by the
attack on Belgium. But we know
now from GERMAN STATEMENTS, that
German military plans had for years
intended to break this pledge.
German rulers lied as TO this consis-
tentlY, and LIED UP TO THE LAST DAY.
On the morning before the German
troops advanced the German minister
assured Belgium she need feel no
alarm, and in the evening of that
same day he delivered his ultimatum.
The world has never seen so com
plete denial of the binding effect of
the pledged word. Why has Germany
so lost sight of the principle of honor
among nations? Her own answer re-
Veals the cause; it is again the plea of
MIGHT. THE fate that Belgium has
called down upon herself (note the
hypocrisy of thiS is hard. but not too
nard, for the destinies of the i'm
mortal great nations stand so high
That they can not but have the right.
10 case OF need, to stride over exist
encles that can not defend them
selves" professor Oncken.) When |
the British minister at Berlin notified |
tne German Chancellor that Great
Britain was IN HONOR bound to de.
fend Belgium's neutrality, the latter |
argued that this was 'Terrible. a
war gust for word-'neutralitv,
Iust for scrap of paper" The pitt |
Iul--yes, the Observation-Disclosures of
'uch utterances, is that Germans be.
leve them justified.
III l am asked what we are fight
ng Tor, "said Prime Minister Asouitb.
L can reply in two sentences. In
me first place, to fulfill an Obligation
!. not only of law, but of honor.
Which no self.respecting man coulo
possibly have repudiated; secondly. 10
the principle. that small
latlonalitles are not to be crushed, in
lenance OF international good faith
America was not direct guarantor
IKE Great Britain, of the neutrality
u Belgium. though in various con.
'entions (of which Germany also was
signer) we pledged to the mainte-
lance OF the world principle of .sgood
alUn' But EVERY nation was
Hacked when Germany broke faith
The law protecting Belgium which
vas Violated was our law and the law
every other civilized country IT.
'as our safeguard against the neces-
ltY of maintaining nraat nr.,.