Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-05-11
PART l


A MONG military classics for the last 100
"A years the preeminent work is Gen, Karl
Won Clausewitz' treatise on the philosophy Of
war, which he called Vom Kriege.
Clausewitz' fundamental postulate was
that war is not a wild, unreasoning, purpose
less phenomenon, but it is a continuation of
politics, but by other than the usual means.
1t is cessation of the effort to win
dynastic or nationalist advantages by the usual
methods of diplomacy, by conference or by
concession, and an appeal to the sword. War
begins when diplomacy fails.
THERE is no gainsaying this definition
i War and especially modern war, is
gagged in for distinct political detectives. The
soldiers and sailors are the instruments ra-
Their than the makers Of war.
Responsibility for war usually goes back
Of the fighting forces to governments, to the
nations behind them. If we accept this defni-
tion that war is continuation of politics by
means of violence, we should not, however,
leap to the conclusion that when war is re-
sorted to, politics and political direction are
quescent, suspended.
They are not. They continue and, as
politics controls the initiation of the war so
with the conduct of war, and the terms on
WHICH war is enueU anu peace Te-eSJdUuSHeu
WHERE several nations are associated or
w allied in war, their detectives frequently
conflict. The detectives of one nation are
opposite TO those of others or another.
1t is of the utmost Importance in an
associated or allied war to reconcile these
detectives. 1t is perilous to await the con-
clusion of war before a reconciliation is
effected.
This is sufficiently illustrated by what
followed the end of World War l. President
Wilson went to Paris in 1919 without having
informed hmself-in fact he claimed to be
in ignorance-of the detectives agreed upon
by the allied nations before we entered, in
series of secret treaties.
He expressed great indignation when at
the early conferences at Paris, these secret
agreements were revealed. He attempted to
defeat some of them which were obviously dis
advantageous to the American people but, the
war being over, victory being achieved, he
could accomplish nothing.
The great international role which he had
played was ended. His own life was broken
THERE is a grave matter of ethics involved
i in this because, as we entered upon the
war in 1917, the Allies sent their repre-
SentauVeS 10 washington 10 disclose 10 our
administration the perilous position that they
were in, the exhaustion of their resources and
the imperative necessity of America under
taking at once the financing of the war, and
the dispatch Of a great army to Europe.
This, of course, was the time before
committing us to participation in war with
agreed detectives, to which we could not give
approval, to have called for the complete
revelation of the secret treaties and all agree
ments based upon them. N.N
This was not done. In fact, the story is
that President Wilson refused to allow it to
be done.
THERE was gentleman's responsibility
i resting upon these representatives of the
Allied governments who bore demands for our
cooperation, TO tell us about their secret
treaties. They did not. They took advantage
Of our stupidity.
Among them. there was one whom would
regard as a great gentleman, Mr.. Balfour.