The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-30

view Of the English press that it /
was an act of hostility against Eng |
land and an encroachment on Eng |
lish rights for the German Emperor
to congratulate the head of d friend
ly state on his victory over an
armed band that had invaded his
land in defiance of international
law, and had been declared to be
outside the pale of the law by the
English Government itself. But it |
was not recorded that he disavowed
the Kaiser's responsibility for it.
gain firm foothold in China, concern
ing the exploitation of which land
without German participation a tri-
partite treaty had already been made.
Usher talked out of school and con-
clusively proved at whose door lies
the guilt for the World War. The
treaty directed against Germany =
sometimes called the "gentleman's
.agreement"-of the Spring of 1897, is
the basis, the point of departure, for
this war, which was Systematically
developed by the Entente countries
| for seventeen years. When they had
succeeded in winning over Russia and
Japan likewise for their purposes, they
struck the blow, after Serbia had
staged the Sarajevo murder and had
thus touched the match to the careful
ly-filled powder barrel.
Professor Usher's statements are
| likewise complete refutation of all
those who were impelled, during the
war, to find the reason for the entry
of the United States in certain mil
itary acts on the part of Germany, as,
for instance, the Lusitania case, the
expansion of U-boat warfare, etc.
None of that is right. The recently
published, excellent book of John Ken
meth Turner. Shall it Be Again p
points out, on the basis of convincing
proofs, that Wilson'S alleged reasons
for going to war and war aims were
not the real ones. America-or rather
President Wilson-was resolved prob
ably from the start, certainly from
1915. to range herself against Germany
and to fight She did the latter, al
leging the U-boat warfare as pretext,
in reality under the influence of pow
erful financial groups, and yielding to
the pressure and prayers of her part
ner, France, whose resources in man
power were becoming more and more
exhausted America did not wish to
leave a weakened France along with
England, whose annexation designs on
Calais, Dunkirk, etc., were well known
to her.
\ 1t was a fateful thing for Germany
let this be stated here, in general
way-that our Foreign Office was IN
able to meet the broad policy of en-
circlement of England and the cunning
of Russia and France with an equa
degree of diplomatic skill. This was
partly because it had not really beer
trained under Prince Bismarck; anG
therefore when, after the retirement
of the Prince and Count Herbert, the
all-dominating will and spirit were
lacking, it was not up to the task o.
conducting foreign affairs on its owl
independent initiative.
Moreover, it is difficult in German!
to train up good diplomats, since oul
people lack the taste and endowment
for diplomacy which have shone fortl
brilliantly only from a few German
minds, like Frederick the Great AMI
Bismarck. Unfavorable also to thu
, Foreign Office were the very frequen
changes of Secretaries of State. I'm
perial Chancellors, following the ex
/. ample of Bismarck, maintained thei
influence upon the Foreign Office ant
suggested the Secretaries of Stat,
who should direct its affairs. I &C
quiesced in the proposals of the I'm
perial Chancellors as to these posts
since / admitted their right to choos
themselves their leading collaboration
in the domain of foreign affairs. Tha
nhanOnc Upro not oa1
culated to work toward the continuit,
: of political policy was a disadvantag
that had to be taken into account
, The Foreign Office was largely il
: fluenced by the axiom: mo disagree
able quarrels with other powers
"surtout pas d'histoires" cabove al
= no yarns"), as the French Genera
2 said to a company of soldiers which
i he had heard, wished to mutiny. On
: of the Secretaries of State told m
g once when, in placing some matte
e before me, had called his attention t
y the apparently serious situation i
4 connection with some foreign question
/ that this simply must be righted, tina
q the Foreign Office based its acts pr
$ marily upon the maxim: Let US hav
I quiet"
: Given this attitude one can also III
9 derstand the answer which the Ge1
man representative gave to Germa
: merchant in a South American repul
r lie who had asked him for help an
: intercession with the authorities, sine
his shop had been plundered and hi
property stolen: "Oh, don't bother m
e with these things! We have estal
Z lished such pleasant relations wit
n this republic; any action undertake
> in your behalf would only serve to VI
a set them" I need scarcely add tia
d whenever such a conception of dut
e came to my attention l removed th
9 official concerned from his post.
e The Foreign Office enjoyed gener;
E unpopularity both among the peopl
L and in the army. 1 worked continl
S ously, during the tenure of office {
d various Chancellors, for thorough r
d form, but in vain. Every new Chal
v cellor, especially if he himself did NJ