The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-04
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

TINE United States may not be played for a
sucker again on the basis of any "holy war"
talk of Germany's enemies Hence, it will be
well for us to study carefully the actual facts
in the important and portentous diplomatic ne
gotiations which are now in progress. If we had
possessed the real facts from 1914 to 1917, it is
doubtful if either Walter Hines Page or the Wall
Street bankers Of the Allies could have put us
in the World War.
Reading of the negotiations with Hitler, I
was struck by headline which might have been
lifted without the slightest alteration from the
newspapers of July, 1914. 1t read Germany
Flatly Refuses All Overtures." Perhaps she did
but we should demand a careful examination of
the facts before forming any conclusive judg-
ments.
If there was anything which most Of us &C
copied as an absolute certainty from 1914 TO
1920-myself included-it was that Germany had
refused all suggestions for a diplomatic settle
ment of the crisis of 1914.
1t has long since been established by Prof
Fay DR.. Ewart and others that Germany &C
copied all except one Of the diplomatic proposals
of 1914. And for this one that she rejected she
suggested a substitute which Sir Edward Grey
himself admitted was the best proposal of all.
THERE were four methods suggested in 1914
Il as to how the crisis might be handled with
out resort to war:
A conference at London of the ambassadors
of Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany
Austria was not to be represented, since she was
an Interested party in the Austro-Serbian
dispute.
Mediation between Austria-Hungary and
Russia, lest Russia precipitate war by backing
up Serbia.
Direct conversations between Austria Hun
gary and Russia, to settle their differences over
Serbia.
Mediation between Austria Hungary and
Serbia.
Germany and Russia rejected the proposal
Of a conference of ambassadors to consider the
Austro-S Serbian dispute. The German ground
was that the dice would be loaded against Aus
tria in such conference where Germany alone
could be counted upon to support the Austrian
point Of view Both France and Russia also OPP
posed any suggestion to submit the Austro-Ru
sian controversy to a conference In the place
Of a conference, Germany suggested direct nego-
tiationS between Russia and Austria. Sir Ed
ward Grey expressed his conviction that this
was the best plan of all:
"AS long as there is prospect of a direct
exchange Of views between Austria and Russia,
would suspend every other suggestion, as I
entirely agree that this is the most preferable
method Of all"
THE second plan of diplomatic settlement,
4 that Of mediation between Russia and Aus
ia-Hungary, was proposed by Grey on July "a
and 25 Germany Immediately assented and
offered to mediate between Russia and Austria
Hungary as soon as an occasion arose which
would make such mediation feasible.
The third proposal-direct conversations be-
tween Russia and Austria -Hungary-waS one
made by both Grey and Germany. Germany
urged it upon Austria with great earnestnesS, but
it came to naught because Russia insisted upon
discussing the Austro-Serbian impasse which
Austria maintained was her own affair, point
Of view vigorously conlbated by Germany after
July %. 1914.
The fourth and final diplomatic device vas
mediation between Austria Hungary and Serbia
Germany eagerly embraced this after July q
and devoted her most persistent diplomatic eff
forts to trying to induce Austria Hungary to
accede. But Count Berchtold, Austrian foreign
minister, had received misleading assurances
from the British embassy in Vienna relative to
British neutrality; so he refused to heed Ger
manyS entreaties until after the Russian general
mobilization had made a European war inevi-
table.
After historians had shown that Germany
apparently co-operated enthusiastically and
earnestly in the proposals for diplomatic set
Element of the 1914 crisis. it alleged by
'bitter-en ders" on the basis of a solitary and
ambiguous telegram by Count Szogyeny the
senile Austrian ambassador in Berlin, that Ger
many was completely hypocritical in all this
that she was secretly assuring Austria behind
the back of the Triple Entente that she had no
use for these diplomatic suggestions. Count Max
Montgelas. among others. has completely de-
molshed this Szogyeny myth
The fact that Germany favored diplomacy in
1914 is no proof that she favors it today But
the fact that we were 100 per cent bamboozled
in 1914 ought to be sufficient ground for watch
] ing our step now.