THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1917. MR. WILSON ON PEACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16567, 16 June 1917, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1917. MR. WILSON ON PEACE.

Mr. Wilson's views upon a Germanmade peace, explained at Washington on "Flag Day," contrast refreshingly with those which he was supposed to take only six months ago. At that time he still appeared to think it possible to keep the United States out of the war, having apparently in his mind some vague idea that he would be able to act as umpire between the belligerents if he could persuade them to " peace without victory." Presumably dominated by this idea he abstained from expressing any opinion which might suggest to any belligerent that he was not absolutely impartial, with the inevitable result that he pleased nobody, least of all the Allied nations who were aware of the aims of Germany and were conscious that the future of I democracy was at stake. Attacks upon the American flag on the high seas and the murder of Americans by Germany's submarine piracy forced the Washington Government to defend its citizens. After tho consequent declaration of war there | was no longer any reason why Mr. Wilson should maintain his unfortunate pose as an impartial neutral. He has since given expression to views and opinions which are practically identical with those held by British statesmen when discussing the general policy of the British Empire. , There is no need to argue with Mr. Wilson as to the theoretic difference he assumes between "the German people" and " Germany's military masters." We can keep our own opinions as to the character and criminality of a people who rejoiced at the sinking of the Lusitania, have shown no sign of repentance for monstrous outrages, and have given to the pretensions of the Kaiser the unblushing approval of press and pulpit, professors and politicians. Mr. Wilson has several millions of German-1 born fellow-citizens and is natur-1 ally inclined to build for them a' bridge between their sympathies and their loyalty— to say their interests. As a good republican, chief magistrate of a great democracy, it is as easy as it is expedient for him to denounce "Germany's rulers" and to assert that the German people " did not originate this j hideous war and did not wish us, to be drawn in." That the German people universally expected a vast I territorial and monetary plundering of their neighbours as die reward of easy victory is sufficient proof that "this hideous war" was far from their thoughts three years ago and Mr. Wilson might have added that little as they desired to drive America to the ranks of their enemies in 1017 they very much less desired to bring Britain into the field in 1914. All this, however, is aside from the real question. It is enough for us to know that with another formula Mr. Wilson holds the same purpose which is that Prussia's military domination over the German, Austrian, Hungarian, and Balkan states must be broken in order "to make the world safe for the peoples who live on it-" If this should prove to be as much for the good of the German people as for the good of otherß, so much the better. There will be no quarrel with Mr. Wilson because of this pious wish, particularly as he speaks in the same breath of America bidding "thousands, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of our men to die beneath the flag" in what we hold with him to be " a people's war for freedom, justice and self-government." The most interesting feature of Mr. Wilson's " Flag Day" speech is not, however, his indictment of Prussian militarism nor even his < masterly exposition of the plan by i which the Central Powers became " but a single Power, taking orders from Berlin, whose net was spread from Hamburg to the Persian' Gulf;" it is his warning against "the snare set by peace" which had been the talk of the German Foreign Office for over a year." His explanation of the motives which impelled " Germany's military masters" to set this snare sub-'. stantiates the claim of every Allied statesman, while his statement that ''they came to me in all sorts of. channels and guises" is wholly in ; keeping with the universal experi- j ence of German methods. Accord-1 ing to Mr. Wilson, Germany simply. " wishes to close the bargain before' it is too late." If peace is obtained by the German leaders with advantages apparently in his favour, " their prestige will be secure" and " we and the rest of the world must! remain armed and make ready for 1 the next step in their aggression." If they fail in this "one chance to perpetuate their military power and political influence" their own people will "thrust them aside." The American president's convictions should strengthen the hands : and encourage the hearts of loyal Allies, who through years of desper-1 ate struggling and by preparations made possible by the heroic sacrifices of their inadequately munitioned armies have made " Ger- i many's military masters see clearly what fate has brought them." J |