New-York tribune., 1919-03-27
Promoting War, Not Peace

Citizens Of the Republic, without re-
gard to party affiliation, and getting all
dust of illusion out of their eyes, should
give serious, very serious, consideration
to highly dangerous. situation.
The future, unless common sense and
wisdom quickly come to their own, is
menacing. Since the armistice was
signed 1876 days have elapsed. And
practically nothing has yet been done to
establish immediate peace or to safe
guard the future. The forces of evil,
taking advantage Of an unexpected res
pite, raise their heads again and
threaten the world with new commo-
tons.
The causes for the great disappoint-
ment are easily discernible. They in
here in the delay and false ideas which
have been imposed on the majority of
the delegates at Paris; arise out of the
stubborn refusal of the leaders Of the
minority to abandon a policy Of demon
strated harmfulness.
The war problem and the peace prob
lem are one. 1t is blunder to dis
sociate them. A particular group of
nations, diabolically prepared, suddenly
attacked the liberties of mankind. 1t
was the Goth again. Attila was on the
march. The motives were those Of
Tamerlane, Suleiman and Genghis Khan
IA love of conquest and lust for
other peoples possessions.
The only possible answer was self
Iofo M ~
defender, as he fought for himself,
fighting for all. A summons came to
the universal conscience to hasten to
the battlefield. Thus simple was the
issue. And the problem of the peace
conference is to provide against its re-
currence.
But many we're so deficient in intel
lect as not to see the issue simply, or
morally SO inert as to ignore the call
for help. Fooled themselves, or trying
TO fool others, they did not discriminate
between assailants and defenders, be-
tween wrong and right. They asked
both sides, as about equally to blame, to
arrange a negotiated peace. This meant
and could only mean that the assai-
ants would attain SO per cent of their
detectives and a period Of rest, while
they made ready to seize the other SO
per cent. The future was to be dedi-
Gated TO war and preparations for it.
Happily, despite the lack of vision
On the part Of important personages in
this country, this "peace without vic
tory" idea did not control our national
acts. But, unhappiy, as soon as the re-
quest for an armistice came from the
defeated it appeared again with in
creased virulence. The necessity of
stopping the wild beast was finally
grudgingly admitted, but the corollary
that it was necessary to chain him until
cured of war rabies was denied.
So Paris has been occupied in con-
sfderlng plans not to preserve peace, but
to promote war. The assumption is
that If the temporarily vanquished are
not satisfied with results they will
maraud again. The world is to bribe
the bandits-a method that invariably
increases their number and voracitv.
barbary pirates cxacted ransom by
threatening to do worse if it was not
forthcoming. So Germany declares: "If
you don't do as / wish will turn Ro]-
shevist"
our European allies asked for firm
coalition for mutual protection, saving
- II this were provided that bonds other
wise necessary need not be applied But
y agreement to this was refused. In lien
bogus peace plan in which there is
no peace or promise Of it was offered
itcontalned no adequate guarantees: and
piainiy no country, least of all our own.
.ntenaed to rely on it for protection
Nevertheiess, OIL the theory that it would
DO little harm, even if it did no good. the
n'ummery Of accepting it was staged.
When the so-called peace was soon
70 furnish only papier-mache armor
other proposals to safeguard peace were
brought forward. These were that the
warmakers should not be allowed
weapons. Germany was to have her
walls thrown down, even as Sparta
threw down the walls of Athens and
Rome those Of Carthage. Again veto
was intcrposcd. A real league Of peace
having been denied. there was also do.
NAL Of enforced and exceptional dis.
armament.
so the matter now stands, and a new
mcnacing alliance is in the making.
Those who would have no balance OF
power are setting up one Germany.
Russia, Hungary, Jugo-Slavia, Bul.
garia, and perhaps Poland and Rumania.
because Of the coercion Of their isola-
iion~-hcrc are elements Of formidable
sllisnce. II formed, will Italy dare long