The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-01
Liberal Viewpoint
-Ry DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

n
i eminent declared war on Russia, after long
waiting It's ultmatum period, designed to
give Russia opportunity to call OF the moblliza-
ton of Russian troops which meant an newt
able European
Today Europe appears to be on the brink of
another military calamity. look at the tragedy
that got in motion on Aug /, 1914, may give
pause to the -mongers OF 1885.
For two generations before 1914 Europe had
been riding for a fall with no serious efforts to
prevent the ultimate calamity. Unbrldled
patriotism feelings Of pride and revenge i'm
perialism and trade struggles, competing colonial
designs tariff wars alliances secret treaties and
vast ornaments had transformed Europe into
great powder house which needed only spark
like the murder of Franz Ferdinand to set it Off
Yet the war was not inevitable after the
Sarajevo assassination. If Russia had not en-
couraged Serbian intrigues; if Germany had
checked more carefully on Austria after June g.
1914 if Austria had been satisfied with the occu-
patton of Belgrade as a means OF holding Serbia
to her word; if France had not encouraged the
fatal Russian mobilization; if Russia had not
frustrated promising diplomatic negotiations by
that mobilization; if Britain had warned France
and Russia that she would not tolerate military
aggreSsion-if any one of these things had hap
pened, the war might never have taken place.
IF all had happened, and they would if states
manship had prevailed there would most
certainly have been no world at the time
But there was no real craftsmanship, and Eu-
rope partly strobe and partly stumbled into the
greatest misfortune which ever came to the
human race.
Some 10 million persons were killed during
the war and the total casualties amounted to
&c. 900 in killed and wounded. The monetary
cost estimated officially at 1891 ,612 $50, 0J0
Writing shortly after the war was over, Prof
Bogart said on this point:
The figures are both ncomprehensible and
appalling yet even these do not take into
account the effect of the war on life, human
vitality, economic well-being, ethics, morality
and other phases of human relationships and
activities which have been diSorganized and in
jured.
1T is evident from the present disturbances
in Europe that the real costs can not be meas
ured by the direct money OUTLAWS of the belliger-
ents during the five years of its duration, but
| that the very breakdown of modern economic
life may be the price exacted"
Prof. Bogart'S words we must admit sadly,
are even more true and timely today than when
he wrote them. Where did all the carnage lead?
Did it pay anybody involved?
Austria Hungary went down to ruin Czarist
Russia passed away, failing to obtain the coveted
Straits which were the real reason why Russia
pushed Europe over the brink in 1914.
|
l. is now as much discomfort with French rule
in the Lost Provinces as there was over German
dominion before 1914. Germany suffered appall-
ing losses in every way, and Great Britain prob
ably never will recover her pre-War prestige and
prosperity.
Only Serbia prohted NIGHTLY but 90 million
souls and 300 billion dollars is a rather high price
to pay for initiating this backward Yugo Slav
state
Historical scholarship has proved that our
wartime convictions were sadly mistaken and
misplaced. Instead of burly Hun jumping on
unSuspecting victims, we now know that the guilt
was distributed among all nations Under the
circumstances which existed in 1914, Austria.
wished local, but not general war: Serbia
France and Russia, a European war; Britain,
Germany and Italy, no war at ALL but were too
selfish, incompetent or dilatory to prevent the
crash.
Likewise, even entente military historians
have admitted that Germany, far from being the
unique military octopus of Europe in 1914 was
outnumbered hopelessly on land and sea by her
enemies.
How about the ideals for which we poured
out blood and money? Have the noble issues set
forth by Mr.. Wilson in 1917 and 1918 been
| realized? The war to end war and ornaments
! failed to materialize.
Last year the world spent more than $4O00,-
| 100000 for ornaments rs per cent more than in
1913. France and her allies have a military
strength amounting to more than 40 to one
! against their old enemies. No such military pre-
| ponderance has been known since Julius Caesars
| DAY. france still struts as victor at moment
! when good will is needed to save humanity. Hit
/ lers response to France is just as menacing.
| NOR was the world made safe for democ-
l racy. With plutocracy, Communism and
! Fasc1sm in the saddle democracy is in greater
dlsrepute and Jeopardy than at any other time
since the collapse of the Revolution of 1873.
Nor have the rights of small nations and self
determination Jared much better
New peoples have passed under the yoke. The
| oppressed have become the oppressors In Mace
! donla, Croatia, the south Tyrol and other
places, freedom is in greater eclipse than among
the represSed nationalities in the dual monarchy
of 1914
World organization is still dream of the
future. The League of Nations supports MANY
1lne humanitarian bureaus, but it never has
conCrolled major international controversy in
over a decade of existence. The World Court
does not even handle the kind of cases likely to
lead to war.
Security, if there is any, still is procured by
sheer military force or diplomatic duplicity The
peace of justice, proclaimed by Mr. Wilson,
turned out to be one of the most vindictive
settlements in human history, from the destruc-
tive results of which our alarmed leaders right
now are desperately endeavoring to rescue the
Western world.
Such are the fruits of the four years of
carnage and the II years of folly There is
little use of crying over spilled milk But it may
not be too much to hope that a lesson so ter
rible and so plain this, can end policies de-
signed to lead tragedy as great or greater than
that which started q years ago today.
FAVORS AT ALL COSTS
TINE evils that marty notifies can cause
= could hardly be made more plain than