AMERICAN VIEW ON THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2373, 1 February 1915, Page 7

AMERICAN VIEW ON THE WAR

TIWYER REVIEWS THE CASE. If the evidence .submitted by the official "White," "Orange," and "Grey" Books of the nations at war were analysed as" a lawyer analyses the evidence in his cases, who' would be responsible for' the European war? This .evidence wa3 submitted' by the "New York Times" to Mr. James M. Beck, formerly Assistant Attorney-General of the United States, and a leader of the New York Bar. Mr. Beck argues his case before the Supreme Court of Civilisation. Three questions were submitted: Was Austria justified in declaring war against Servia? Was Germany justified in declaring var against Russia;and France?' W r as England justified in declaring 'war against Germany? After stating .the facts as disclosed by_ the official publications, ho gives,his-judg-ment as follows:— THE JUDGMENT. These are the facts as shoiyn by tne record, and upon them, in my judgment, an impartial Court would not hesitate to'pass tho following judgment:— I (1) That Germany and Austria, in a time of profound peace, secretly concerted' together to impose their will iipon Europe and uoon Servia in a matter affecting the balance of power in Europe. Whether in so doing' they intended to precipitate an European war to determine (he masterv of Europe is not satisfactorily established, although their whole course vf conduct suggests this as a possibility. They made war almost inevitable by (a) issuing an ultimatum that was grossly unreasonable and disproportionate to any grievance that Austria had, and (b) in giving to Servia, and Europe, insufficient time to coiisider the rights and obligations of all interested nations. . (2) That Germany had at all times the power to compel Austria to preserve a reasonable and conciliatory course, but at no time offectively. exerted that influence. On the contrary, she certainly abetted, and possibly instigated, Austria in its unreasonable course. (3) That England, France, Italy, and Russia at all times sincerely worked for peace, and for this, purpose not only overlooked the original misconduct of Austria, but made every reasonable concession in the hope of preserving peace. (4) That Austria, having mobilised its army, Russia was reasonably justified in mobilising its forces. .Such act of mobilisation wa's tho right of any sovereign State, and as long as the Russian armies did not cross the border or take any aggressive action no other nation had any just right . to complain, each having the same right to mako similar preparations. (5) That Germany, in abruptly declaring war against Russia for failurei to demobilise when the'other Powers had offered to make any reasonable concession and peace parleys were still in progress, precipitated the war.