New-York tribune., 1919-04-24

VI Dci pld. LIS SECOND IeleEranl, besides
asking Russia to be merely a spectator
of Austria -Hungary's attack, intmated
that if Russia moved to Serbia's aid
Germany would attack Russia The
third telegram was to the same effect
declaring that eff Russia mobilizes
against Austria Hungary" there would
be a general war.
That the Gar fully agreed with
Sazonotf is shown by mass of docu-
mentary evidence, particularly his tele-
gram of July 27, two days before Rus
sian mobilization, to the Grown Prince
of Serbia. Counscling Serbia to yield
to the utmost degree possible, he con-
Guided by solemnly saying Russia will
IN no case dsinterest herself in the fate
of Serbia"
Russla's policy and Gcrmanys policy
were equally plain. Russia, said the
Car, "could not desert her brethren in
Serbia Germany said she must desert
them or suffer attack. The subsequent
talk about mobilization was an after
thought, and Germany could not keep
pened that the ultimatum to Russia
asked. it will be recalled, not merely an
abandonment Of mobilization against
Germany, but against Austria Hungary
as we'll Thus Germany harkcd back
to the demand that Russia stand aside.
The conclusion is further enforced
by the final effort Sazonon made for
peace. On July 80 he submitted to the
German Ambassador formula which if
1t had been agreed to, would have
averted the war. If Austria Hungary
would stay her march Russia would stop
her military preparations. Sazonolf in
structed the Russian Ambassador to get
an immediate answer. The German
Foreign Minister replied that che CON
sldered it impossible for Austria to ac-
cept'-on return without consultation
with Vienna. Germany was resolved to
attack unless Russia would "disnterest"
herself i'll Serbia, and attack she did.
The Gar was not overstrong in in
tellect, and possibly at times he was
mixed up by the whirl Of events. He
may have given contradictory instruc-
tons, but in the main he acted intelli
gently and sincerely. In his first tele
gram to the Kaiser he wrote: can
lgnomlnlous war has been declared
against a weak country, and in Russia
the indignation, which I fully share, is
tremendous" He exhorted the Kaiser to
restrain his ally.
The Kaiser's reply justified an attack
on Serbia, and the issue was thus Joined,
and all else is collateral The Kaiser
had appeared once again in shining
armor and Russia was forced to choose
between throwing Serbia overheard or
lighting. Germany saw in Russian mobili- /
zatlon, not a threat against her, bat
purpose to protect Serbia.
The Russian policy was the same as
that followed by this country when we
told the third Napoleon that he must
withdraw his soldiers from Mexico, and |
when we told Great Britain that a re-
tusal to arbitrate the Venezuelan boun-
Diary would lead us to defend Venezuela. /
Why the attempts to obscure the wars
beginnings is obvious If Sazonofi was
to blame, was pursuing imperialistc
designs or planning to attack Germany,
the moral foundation of the Allies is
destroyed. Germany is presented as
defender, and should receive an in
demnity rather than pay one The
record is voluminous, the details are
tedious, and repeated assertion of the
false, it is hoped, will perhaps lead many
to accept it as truth. So the German
propagandists expand every half truth
to throw suspicion ON Russia or France
or Italy or Great Britain. And the Bol
shevists, of course, blackguard the old
Russia.
The persons engaged in this special
pleading for Germany know what they
are dong, They are endeavoring to
save Germany from the consequence of
crime as formerly they labored to make
her crime successful, While about tins
neiarious business the conSpirators dis
pulsed themselves in the garments of
paclsm and pretend not to see that
the outlook for peace viii be poor if
hiVorans can be induced to write text.
books which teach that Russia was abou,
to attack and that Germany merely
anticipated the blow.