The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-20

As early as 1S4S the Parliament of Frankfort, the first manifestation of German unity, cheered the Lombard ment oGPrague by the Austrians, and some years later Treitschke the mas ter of German historical science, wrote: Tt is not fitting that Germans should repeat commonplaces of peace apostles nor that they should shut their eyes to the harsh necessities of our times. Yes. our age Is an age of war, an age of iron. The triumph of the strong over the weak is the memorable law of life"
 There Is the doctrine. France has never known any such, and this in itself suffices to distinguish the two peoples
 Prussin's Attitude
 The political spirit thus formed is simply one of raison d etat It was in 1901 that Metternich, who knew what he was talking about, showed Prussia "emancipated from all sense of duty. exploiting the misfortuncs of others, without the slightest re- gard for her obligations or her promises" Cast your eyes down the line of Bismarck's successors. Might always placed above right, with Ger many applauding. The elegant skep- ticism of 8 von Bulow, by far the most distinguished of the lot, is but a mask In might he trusts! It IS upon the presumption that none will dare to defy German power that he rests his whole diplomacy, all the while proclaimAg 1t devoted to peace. But the day when the others neither will nor can give way any further, i4 h ic n fact at the very basis of the sys- tem--war and contempt for -rshti Bulow, a true disciple of Mismarck, declares; Tn the hard world in which we live, None must be either anvil or hammer His choice is quickly made. kuhlmann, a pupil of von Bu- low, echoes the same sentiments T have waged relentless war upon principles. They are justif1able in morals, but not Tn politics. Here 1t is a question Of aims, not of means Germany, be 1t not forgotten, listens to all this and applauds.
 Necessity Knows no Law
 And to sum up this synical profes- sion of faith this is how the last chancellor = Bethmann-H -Hollweg, . mediocre and for that very reason thoroughly representative official expresses himsel1: Necessity knows no law" The unanimous approval which this axiom elicited in~August. 1914. shows that Germany, industrious and painstaking but wrought up by that moral wickedness" of which Nietxsche speaks as flowing in her veins with the blood of her ances- tors" the whole of Germany was long since ready to accept it. From 1870 on the German received training for war from the cradle up. training for war at his mothers knee. train ing for war at school. in the uni versity, in the army. training TOT war in every walk of life. Germany turned towards war as flowers turn towards the sun.
 In France there were some who took heart. saying. Germany Is too rich to make war; poor under- standing indeed Of the nature and origin of her wealth Germany has accumulated prodigious wealth in less than halt of q century. But thls result too rapidly attained has not been unaccompanied by crises. The first had fallen Tn 1901, memorable year of bankruptcies and failures Tn 1911 and the following months the situation, nithouxai less critical, re mRincG tense, so tonso lHuccu thhs more than ono German, familiar with history and remembering the great Impetus given by victory in 1870, be- ran to beiisvs the normal play or competition to Do neither tho best nor tho sursst means to conquer Haf= kets, settle balances and feed the treasury.
 war ss . Dusinsss
 Such Gormans, sAturatod ~ith their nationai traditions, locked ups on rar as businsss; just as thsiF govef pmsnt conducted business as r 1t had been war. Thus Hfs~ uh thht cios. union of peiiIss and sesHsFaies which Is 50 typical >af the tiefHah public mind, sefhe aNeamsd CT ssM- iratins an sasiAvad ffuFapei aiheFs, like Wasnef'a 'I.ibeiaHg." lastsd fsf the possossien of soid. Beth were