The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-19
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
Liberal Viewpoint
by DR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

TN the midst Of a possible European crisis
l. caused by the assassination of King Alexan-
der OF Yugoslavia, comes the news Of the death
of the man who played dominating role in the
great crisis Of twenty years ago. If Alexander
Izvolski had a more sinister part in laying the
powder train in the years before 1914 certainly
no single figure was more responsible for the
turn of events in 1914 than Raymond Poincare.
Poincare's relation to the World war was in
timately bound up with the question Of Alsace-
Lorraine, which Germany, with perfect moral
right but dubious expediency, annexed after the
Franco-Pr ussian war. This act ultimately led
| 10 Germanys downfall. 1t was one Of the two
major causes of the World war, the other being
Russia's desire for a warm water port and the
straits leading past Constantinople.
1t was Raymond Poincare who finally
brought the Alsace-Lorraine issue into line with
European war. The first French agitators for
a war of revenge were mainly Royalists such as
Boulanger. The Republicans resented the taking
of Alsace-Lorraine, but they avoided bringing it
up as an international issue.
If they did not mention it in public they did
in secret diplomatic channels. The French am
bassador to st. Petersburg before the war,
George Louis, tells us that it was always taken
for granted that the return of Alsace-Lorraine
to France was the rock-bOtton element in
Frances interest in the Franco-Russian alliance
If Russia got the straits, France was to get
AlSace Lorraine.
DOINCARE was a native of Lorraine and Bit
l. terly resented the invasion and annexation
Of his fatherland. 1t became an obsession with
him. In an unguarded moment of eXaltation
he once told group of university students:
In my years at school my thought, bowed
before the specter of defeat, dwelt ceaselessly
upon the frontier which, the treaty of Frank
fort had imposed upon us. When I descended
from my metaphysical clouds I could discover
no other reason why my generation should go
on living, except for the hope Of recovering our
lost provinces"
The second Morocco crisis Of 1911 gave Pon-
care his opportunity. The great and pacific
statesman Joseph Caillaux, who had saved
France from a ruinous war, was driven out of
office by the super-patriots, and Poincare was
made prime minister.
Izvolski had resigned as Russian foreign min
lister and had come to Paris as Russian ambas-
sador because he felt he could work out his dip
lomatic problems better when in close touch
with his French allies. He reports that after
his first visit with Poincare he felt like new
man."
THOUGH Poincare disliked and distrusted
Il Izvolski they worked smoothly and consis-
tently in diplomatic plans. Poincare assured
1zvolskl that in case a war broke out over the
Balkans, and Germany was involved, France
would unfailingly support Russia.
This gave Izvolski the assurance that he
wished. He first tried out little war;" in the
form of the Balkan conflict of 1912-1913, but his
Balkan wards took to fighting among themselves
and failed to obtain the straits for Russia. Then
Izvolski became convinced that only the 'big
war" would turn the trick. AS he said, "the
road to Constantinople runs through Berlin"
meaning that Germany must be conquered.
In the midst Of the crisis created by the MUIR
der of Franz Ferdinand in 1914 Poincare went
to ST. Petersburg, encouraged the Grand Duke
Nicholas and other members of the war crowd
in Russia and heartily treasured them that
France would fight by RuSsia's side.
This attitude led Russia to recklessness and
helped on the psychology that precipitated the
Russian mobilization while there was still a
good chance to preserve the peace of Europe.
When Poincare heard that this mobilization
was in Notwithstanding full we'll that it
meant an inevitable European war-he merely
told the Russians to go ahead but to be very
careful about it, so that Germany would not
learn of it any sooner than necessary. Never
once during the crisis did Poincare raise his
hand for peace.
Did he want war? Not if he could get back
Alsace-Lorraine without it, But he felt that
only by war could he gain his most cherished
ambitions-the return of the Lost Provinces.