THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1914. THE GENESIS OF THE WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16190, 28 September 1914, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1914. THE GENESIS OF THE WAR.

We publish this morning a summary of a speech delivered by the Prime Minister at the Mansion House, Dublin, in which he appealed for an Irish contribution of men to a second Imperial Army of half a million that is being raised. Mr Asquith has once more, with logical deliberation, exposed the motive underlying Germany's great military adventure. Germany has struck at her neighbours because those guiding her policy believed that the hour had come when she could do so to the best advantage. The more we learn of the circumstances immediately preceding the outbreak of hostilities the more ground we have to be convinced that Germany might have kept the peace if she had had the least inclination to do so. She has elected, however, to go to war precisely for those reasons which careful students of her history, in interpreting her motives correctly to the world, have shown to constitute the foundation of her aggressive policy. Her endeavour at the present time is to pose as the apostle of peace in Europe for the last forty years. In the light of recent events this claim is a melancholy piece of irony. In her apostolic mood she has contributed, as Mr Asquith observed at Dublin, " some of their blackest pages to the sombre annals of war." The story of the invasion of Belgium makes the worse reading the more we hear about it. That there will be a ready response to the Frime Minister's appeal for an Irish brigade or an army corps as part of the second British Army may be. taken for granted. The traditions of the Irish regiments participating in British battles abroad are farfamed, and in no war in which the Empire is engaged will they cease to be maintained. The patriotic utterances of Mr Redmond, the Nationalist leader, are what we would all expect of him zfter his stirring speech in the House of Commons at the time of the outbreak of war. Mr Philip Snowden, the well-known British Labour leader, whom we shall be pleased to welcome to this city, has been expressing in Auckland certain views concerning the war that are. of interest. He has uttered his protest, for one thing, against the policies of ententes and alliances which, he suggests, have made Great Britain's participation in the conflict unavoidable. As he remarks, a vast question of policy is involved in connection with these understandings and compacts between nations But the layman will Tecognise that an alliance or an entente cuts two ways. If it entails obligations, it also brings advantages. It may help to preserve peace as well as to involve a nation in war. It may mean safety as well as sacrifice. Mr Snowden seems, however, to imply rather much. " Splendid isolation" on the part of even the most powerful of nations may have the gravest disadvantages. Moreover, it must be quite clearly Tecognised that, even if the Triple Entente had not existed, Great Britain could not have stood aloof in the present struggle. Her selfinterest would not have permitted it. She could not stand by and see France crushed and German}' firmly established in the North Sea a few miles from the coast of England. She is a participant in the war, besides, for the reason expressed by Mr Asquith when he said : " We are fightirg to vindicate the principle that small nations I

are not to be crushed in defiance of international good faith and at the arbitrary will of a strong overmastering Power." Mr Snowdeu suggests that the conclusion of the war will provide wonderful opportunities for trying to put Europe extensively on a 'peace instead of a war footing. That the opportunities may Teally come and be successfully utilised will be the world's devouteat desire. The German, military menace has provided the great impulse to the maintenance of huge navies and armies. Onc« it is removed the Powers of Europe may be able to secure some relief from the burden of armaments. Interests vital to civilisation and the. progress of the world, which are now at stake, as Mr .Asquith has pointed out, may then be less hampered.