The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-16


called disarmament feature the exclusion OF the
far graver and more dangerous circumstances which
constitute the Pacific question The truth is that the
United States is embarking upon policy which al
most Inevitably leads to war. In my Judgment
shall have with Japan within the next FIVE years.
unless abandon all purposes both to China
and as to the Pacific And this view is. beyond all
question the current opinion among those well in
formed about foreign affairs in Europe.
II one desires q parallel, the policy the United
States has adopted with respect of Japan is precisely
that of Britain toward Germany, which only led
to the world but British participation therein
What is more to the point, when the war actually
arrived the of the British people were totally
amazed. il "a bolt from the blue" despite
the fact that British policy had made it well-nigh
unacceptable ~
am not undertaking to say British policy pro-
cured the world that Britain was morally re-
sponsble for it; all this German propaganda is purest
moonshne. The fact was that Germany had grown
TO the point where she could no longer live within
the narrow limits which were imposed upon her by
her cguous European territories and her unatractve
colonial domain. Or il prefer state the thing
little differently the great of the German peo
pic believed that this was the case.
AS = consequence Germany sought to expand,
but expansion scoud only be at the expense of
other country and IN almost every case Britain APP
peared in support of the country marked down by the
Germans their victim. In Africa Britain supported
the failing power Of Portugal. her ally since the Ma
polconc period In Europe Britain supported France
and at all times indicated that any German effort to
annex either of the low countries would be casus
beli. Even. in Morocco Germany found British
power behind French claims.
WV HEN the Anglo French understanding was
w extended to include Russia, then the thing
the Germans henceforth called the iron circle" was
complete. Russia. as the champion of the Balkan
States blocked German. hopes of advance down the
Danube and to the Golden HON. Britain. as the
frendSof France. blocked German expansion in Eu-
rope and in Africa at the expense Of the French while
she guaranteed Portuguese colonies, until such time
as Portugal should consent to SELL then she was
willing to agree to partition. And the United
States through the policy expressed in the Monroe
Doctrine. blocked German expansion in the Western
Hemisphere
The German policy was PREDATORY simply that
and nothing In defending France and sPortd-
gal Britain was doing no more than what was at
once moral and political duty, precisely as was
the Of her support Of the integrity of Belgium
and Of Holland integrity meaning independence. But
the fact of British policy closed the door what the
German regarded as his right to expand. He saw
France take Morocco. Britain the South African Boer
States He beheId Russia pushing out to the Pacific
and Hindu Kush and even Belgium acquiring vast
empire on the Congo. He saw America rising as the
new power in the West.
We all know the result. The German abandoned
any thought of peaceful penetration and prepared for
the which should break the circle forged about
the German by British policy. But in al the time
when the German was preparing. British statesman
ship refused to face the fact and prepare. 1t would
neither resign the policy which resulted whatever its
moral justification, and think it was absolute in
eircumscribng the German future yet gather to-
geher his and get ready for that war which
was bound to come, since Germany was visbly re-
solved to accept that place in the sun or in the
shade which was all that remained, when British pol
icy had once been established.
In all the critical period between 1905 and 1914
we had exchanges Of visits between statesmen and
sovereiQns both sides of the North We had