LIGHT IN DARK PLACES

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 2, 10 January 1923, Page 4

LIGHT IN DARK PLACES

The editorial in the "N.Z. Times*-; on Friday last is, in The Maoriland Worker's opinion, the most important ever printed in the capitalist press oftl the Dominion since the beginning of the war. It is of* the nature of areview of a book, entitled "Forty Years of Diplomacy," by Baron Rosen, the well-known Russ-dn ■ diplomat, whose death occurred but a few months ago. It confirms the attitude taken by The Maoriland Worker towards the war, and the fabrications by which it was supported, particularly the myth about Germany's sole responsibility, upon which is based the whole structure of that cruel and infamous document, the Treaty at Versa'lles.

After some introductory reaiarks the "N.Z. Times" refers to the .Russian mobilisation ordered by the Russian War * Sukhomlfnoff, ivhich mobilisation, it will be remembered by those who have read Mr. E. D. Morel's exposures and tho despatches unearthed by the Bolsheviks from the files aud pigeon holes of the Tsarist Foreign- Oilice, was agreed upon in tlie terms of the FrancoRussian Alliance AS THE SIGNAL, FOR AN OFFENSIVE MOVE AGAINST GERMANY and says:

"After many publications the discussion has narrowed down to this question: DID THE GERMANS DECLARE WAR WANTONLY, OR BECAUSE THE MOBILISATION ORDER SENT TO THE RUSSIAN ARMIES LEFT THEM NO OTHER COURSE? It is established that the

French and Russian staffs had arranged a -system of mobilisation -n the event of war, and it iy argued that the carrying out of this arrangement forced the Germans to mobilise, througji fear of being taken at a dis ■ advantage. Baron Roseli, speaking with the ins'de knowledge of the diplomatic service says that THE WAR

MINISTER, DECEIVING THE CZAR AS TO THE URGENCY, OBTAINED FROM HIM THE! ORDER TO MOBILISE; that other influences got the Czar to countermand the order; ttiatTHE WAR MINISTER THEREUPON, STICKING TO HIS GUNS, PREVAILED BY INFORMING THE CZAR THAT THE MOBILISATION COULD NOT, FOR "TECHNICAL REASONS," BE STOPPED. IT WAS ADDED

THAT THE ORDER, THUS SAVED AFTER ONE CANCELLATION, WAS ONLY FOR A PARTIAL MOBILISATION. (This, of course, was a lie. Ed. M.W.) The Czar, frightened nearly to death, wired to the Kaiser telling tbe story of the mobilisation as we Tiave outlined it, and declaring that if the Kaiser did not take hostile notice, he would guarantee thafr the [mobilised Rnssfan armies would not move untT diplomacy had failed to settle matters. The Kaiser, however, without noticing this explanation of the Czar, declared war at once. These we may now regard as the established facts. TECHNICALLY, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE WAR WAS PRECIPITATED BY THE RUSSIAN WAR MINISTER, SUKHOMLINOFP. HISTORY WILL PROBABLY DECIDE ACCORDINGLY. But the question to whether the Kaiser was forced to action thereby, or whether he was too glad of the opportunely undoubtedly opened to him, will probably never be decided.''

Well, if history decides that the war was precipitated by the Russian War Minister, Germany must be exonerated from the charge of having made an "unprovoked attack" on the peace-loving nations of Europe. In this case certain things follow. One of them is that indemnities imposed on Germany on the assumption that she was "solely responsible" for the war cannot justly be exacted, and another is that the statesmen who knew the facte about "Russia's guilt, hut still made the people bel';eve that Germany started the war, were BRAZEN LIARS. We can only add here Uyh thousands of young men ia New Zealand were gaoled and disfranchised for refusing to participate in the war for such reasons as may be inferred from the facts disclosed in Baron Rosen's book. They were penalised, that is for refusing to be duped by liars and ignoramuses.

The "N.Z. Times" then turns its attention to Baron Rosen on the Russian Revolution arid says:

"Mjore interesting is, Rosen's explanation of the success of the Russian Revolution. IT IS THAT. THE MASS OP THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE WERE SICK OF THE WAR, INDIGNANT AT THE ENORMOUS SACRIFICES FORCED UPON THEM IN A CAUSE OF WHICH THEY UNDERSTOOD NOTHING. The propaganda that went out to the Allies from the small class of the InteiHgenzija was that the revolution was the nation',? protest against the mis-

management of the war. This was sent out by the various Provisional Governments, who all in turn assured the Allies of the detffrminat'On of the Russian people to fight for a victorious peace. But each was powerless, because the Soviet which tolerated them REPRESENTED THE DESIRE OF THE MASSES FOR PEACE; and when the Soviet, becoming Bolshevik, eventually seized power, it was successful because it was the only authority that prom'sed immediate peace. The deeper meaning of this explanation is that WAR, WHICH WAS FORCED UPON THE PEOPLE, TORTURED THE PEOPLE INTO REVOLUTION, WHICH DESTROYED THE EMPIRE, AND WILL, XF MORE PEOPLES ARE FORCED INTO WAR, DESTROY CIVILISATION. IT IS NOT '"COMMUNISM THAT HAS DESTROYED RUSSIA. IT IS WAR, AND IF WAR IS ALLOWED TO

COME AGAIN IT WILL DESTROY OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE SAME WAY", FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT HUMANITY HAS LEARNED THAT IT CAN NO LONGER BE FORCED TO UNDERGO BLOODSHED, SORROW, AND RUIN TO SATISFY THE LUST OF INDIVIDUALS FOR POWER OR TO QUENCH THE THIRST OF ADVENTURES FOR GAIN/

The Maoriland Worker heartily agreeb with that, for it. is the only paper in New Zealand that from the beginning of the war ;o the end oi it and after, had the courage and the sense to express what's so obviously true. It. is significant of. much •that the '"N.Z. Times," which has lately turned Masseyite, and which during the war was blatantly, luridly jingo, slioxild, even ? 0 belatedly, publish such eminently reasonable and enlightened views, and The Maoriland Worker sincerely congratulates it for bo doing. Ivlay we express the hope that the leader-writer will not get into trouble Avith the shareholders and directoi's, and that they ell will

fight valiantly for the re-enfranch'se-ment of the Conscientious Objectors?