The Dominion. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1918. STAMPING OUT TREASON

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 16 February 1918, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1918. STAMPING OUT TREASON

' The sentence of death passed upon 8010 Pasha means that I'ranee has taken a decisive step towards rooting out the nest of corruption established within her borders by German bribery and intrigue. 8010, though a Frenchman born, was an adventurer of evil reputation before ho embarked upon the crimes which have now brought retribution. At the beginning of the war he was penniless, but he was speedily supplied by Germany, through the agency, of Abbas Kilmi, exIChedive of Egypt, with large sums of money to be used in influencing the French Press in favour of a German peace. _His treasonable activities now merit attention chiefly on account of tho vivid light they throw upon the foul intrigues which Germany has organised not only in France, but practically all over the world—intrigues by,which she sought from tho first to supplement her military efforts, and upon which she may be expected to rely increasingly as her' military prospects decline. The evidence which ■connects 8010 with the Imperial German Government is complete and unassailable. It includes dis-i patches exchanged between Count Bernstoeff and Here von 1 Jagow,. which show that tho latter, when' German Foreign Minister, approved the plan under which 8010 was to corrupt French newspapers,_ and took an active part in putting it into execution. The 8010 scandal and others which have created so much stir in France havo, however, served a larger purposo as an object-lesson than in giving prominence to the fact that in its settled, policy of attacking its enemies from within the Gorman Government finds congenial instruments in

criminals and adventurers of the lowest type. This fact, which in itself would sufficc to brand Germany as infamous and degraded, has been brought out very clearly. But it has been demonstrated also that German conspiracies and intrigue which take obvious shape in tho activities of creatures like 8010 extend also in wide and tortuous ramifications whioh at some points aro exceedingly difficult to trace, and on that account are doubly dangerous. At the present moment an ex-Prime Minister of France, M. Caillaux, is awaiting trial on a charge of treason', and accusations of the gravest character have been' made also against M. Malvy, who until a few months ago was French Minister of the Interior. That M. Caillaux bad relations with 8010 and other German agents, includingfc the notorious Almeyrbjja, is established . and admitted. It is only the nature of these relations, and their bearing on the treason "charge that awaits judicial determination.

Making every allowance for the possibility that sensationalism may have exaggerated the charges levelled against particular individuals, it is still evident' that the-, main difficulty. confronting tho Clemenceau Government in its task of rooting out treason and meting out justice to-all traitors is that of finding the dividing-line ' between enemy conspiracy and propaganda : and Radical _ and pacifist agitation into which it has at times merged almost imperceptibly. More than one French Ministry, before M. Clemenceau was called into power, had faltered in face of this problem and exposed itself to tho charge that in its anxiety to avoid an open breach with, extremo sections in politics it had tolerated treason. That the course of justice has in this way been terribly impeded is only too apparent.' Even in dealing with double-dyed traitors and criminals like 8010 there have been inexcusable delays, and the net result of past weakness, and temporising is that the task of the Clemenceau Government in extirpating treason and crushing enemy conspiracy: is .heavier and much more complex than it might have been. Fortunately there is every reason to belie've that an end has now been made of all hesitations and delays. M. Clemenceau is not on general grounds a popular Prime Minister. He is widely regarded as a pillar of political reaction, but he is universally credited also with a pitiless determination to suppress internal treason and enemy machinations and intrigue. ' In assuming office he declared that" crimes agaiilst Franee- would be speedily punished. "Wo shall be," ho affirmed, "without .weakness, as we shall be without violence. ~ . . 'No more pacifist campaigns; ho more German' intrigues. Neither treason nor halftreason. ..."

Both in regard to the fell invasion'of German conspiracy and the onlj> possible remedy, the experience of France contains a lesson tthich .should be taken to heart in every nobk and corner of tho Allied world. Our knowledge of what Germany lias accomplished by the foulest methods in France, as in many other countries, not' only Warrants but compels a belief that she is nowhere missing opportunities, and that wherever the voice of disloyalty is raised German gold is available as a, means of tiilming the occasion to account. Tho ' only safeguard against enemy conspiracy is to bo found . in_ the uncompromising policy which is now,,--'somewhat tardily, being applied in France. That half-treason which M. Clejienceau has vigorously denounced spells golden opportunity to the enemy because it enables him to develop his poisonous propaganda in a covering atmosphere of doubt, uncertainty, and irresolution. The moral--of, tho experience through which France has passed and is passing is that the absolutely straightforward attitude which at any time is tho mark of good citizenship _is vitally essential in •time of war against an enemy as basely unscrupulous as he is enterprising. It is a moral as relevant to New Zealand as to France. It is as necessary here as there to bo on guard against half-treason. Captious opposition to necessary war 'measures and .distempered pacifism aro not' in such a time and emorgency- a mark-of honesu loyalty,and those ,)vho- engage in agitation on these lines have no right to complain if they arc regard*.■! not only with general disapproval, but with deep suspicion; -• • •