THE FALLING SWORD.

NZ Truth, Issue 477, 8 August 1914, Page 6

THE FALLING SWORD.

British Intervention Justifiable.

Teutonic Temerity to Blame.

Just as "Truth" goes to press the leading nations of the world are springing at each -other's throats. The reason, for this is not so apparent as many seem to think. Time, an Austrian Archduke and his wife were assassinated a fow weeks ago, but more exalted personages have been "removed" m a similar fashion many times previously and no international conflict has resulted therefrom. "Why, then, should it eventuate m llio present instance? Who can tell? This, however, we do know, that the blood-lust has laid hold on kings and commoners * alike, and there will be no peace until it is slaked to satisfaction or exhaustion. ■ * * * It is all very well for our placehunting politicians to play-up to the Jingo-jag of a Jew hundred hair-brained youths who parade the city streets singing patriotic songs and shouting "Down with Germany." That is the way of boys and halflins. They are irresponsibles and must find some outlet for their pentupness, but for responsible statesmen, not to mention the Premier of the Dominion to encourage such neurotic ebullitions is surely m the worst of fefcrn. It will pass without contradiction that no sane individual of the years of discretion m this Dominion, no matter what his political faith, desired to see Britain involved m war, and least of all lin a war against Germany. Ami ! this not because of any foreboding of .the superiority of the German army and navy, or want of confidence m Britain's power lo successfully resist any nation who

may seek to weaken her prestige and her power, but because the average Briton is sufficiently enlightened and fair-minded enough to admit that the German people are second to none m all the civilised arts and sciences, that Germany, more than, any other country, with the single exception of the United States of America, has, followed the path of commercial ascendancy made plain by the pioneer of industrialism, John Bull. For over a hundred years, the two pe.bples, by ties of blood and bonds of trade, have beendrawing closer and ever closer together. Thousands of Germans have made their homes and intermarried m the British Isles, and this is truer even of the Britains beyond the seas. The sons of both I have stood side by side m many a dear bought victory. Yet now, at the raucous roar of the War Fiend these ties are to be snapped, these bonds are to be broken, the pleasant memories of past comradeship forgotten, and the friend once fondled fought as vilest foe. "Truth" cannot think that any true Briton, or, for that matter, any true German, can contemplate such a dire calamity with equanimity. * * ■ * "Truth" has no" hesitation m declaring that the present crisis i m great measure is press made. The newspapers, while they made an immense fuss about the alleged firing of a few shots by some Servian and Austrian soldiers, treated as a matter of but little importance the tragedy that took place about the same timer m Dublin, where a conflict occurred between Imperial troops and Nationalist volunteers, with the result that several persons were killed and a .considerable number/ wounded, one of whomwas a little boy of ,ten- years of age, who was shot through the back. This horrible affair' has been dealt with as if it were of but little importance. Yet the episode shows that the law. is not now. Administered with impartiality m Ireland, that the Government i^ too cowardly to enforce the law against; the Carsonites (because .the latter have;. the British. Tory Party, : at their, back), while it- unhesitating-. | ly swoops down upon Nationalists doing the same thing as the Carsonites, and, when resisted, shoots down' men, women, and children. This trouble m the "United" Kingdom- itself is of greater real and4inmediate importance to the Bi^Jj^workers than the trouble betv^n the . Servians and the Aug^anjs. Yet their fellow;-work : erslS'tJiis. po.minJi.Qn,. and m other parts of tne" now^ eager for blood-letting, raised not their voices m even the feeblest of protests against such diabolic and dastardly deed. .• " " Up till Tuesday last, hope remained that Britain would find an honorable way out of the difficult position into which her secret treaties with France and Russia apparently had placed her — treaties made, for the most part, by designing diplomats, and the terms and conditions of which her Parliament and her people knew nothing, and about which they were never consulted. The declaration by Italy that although a member of the Triple Alliance, she intended to remain neutral, revived the fading hope that the Motherland would decide to do likewise. This hope. was strengthened further by Italy's reason for so deciding. She declared that the said Alliance was for defensive purposes only, whereas the other two parties to the treaty, Austria and Germany, had acted on the aggressive. This explanation of Italy's apparent desertion of her allies, was canvassed eagerly 'by sanguine Britons anxious to find a way of escape, for the Old Dart. These enthusiasts pointed out that Russia had brought the wrath of Germany dowji uponjier head by espousing the cause" of another power not a partner to the Alliance with Britain and France — heucc Britain was not m honor bound to draw the sword m defence of Muscovite autocracy. "Truth" has no doubt that those who formulated such a view had reason, facts and international usage on their side, and the probability is that the Home Government would have so decided had Germany not committed the most incomprehensible and unforgivable of blunders by invading France while proclaiming war on Russia. This act was clearly one of aggression and Britain, ujiless she wished to tramplo the "entente cordiale" under foot, and revive and reuder accurately applicable that old nickname of French origin, now happily fallen into disuse, of Perfidious Albion, could not but warn Germany that m thus making wanton war upon her ally, France, she must reckon on the opposition of Britain. • . • • It is just as well, perhaps, for tho peace of mind aud uationul pride of the average Briton, that Germany proved too previous and that, her precipitate action niado it imperative that. Britain should announce* her determination to stand by Franco m this quarrel. ''Truth takes this viow hoeauKo it is convinced that soon or syne

Britain would have been enable longer to refuse to render assistance to the murderous Muscovite. The shame of being compelled, by reason of a combination of unpropitious circumstances to send her troops against the noble German people, with whom her own people had no cause for quarrel, certainly would have been swamped m the flood of humiliation and horror at having to espouse and defend with British wealth and British blood the cause of the Czar of Russia, the greatest tyrant of modern times, and of his cruel, vicious and debased Government. Not the wisdom, foresight or clever diplomacy of her statesmen, but Germany's inexplicably precipitate action has saved Britain's name from this blackest and most reprehensible qf all stains! There have been niany questionable acts of the present Home Government m connection with Britain's foreign policy. Sir Edward. Grey, although the most: silent^ of Ministers, has made no secret of his antirGerman sympathies, and to his insistence on. the "right" to capture merchant vessels m time of war, can be traced much, of the suspicion of Britain which is rife m the world to-day. But most sinister of all is Britain's alliance, with the autocracy of Russia— the most dishonored,- as it is the .most despicable and discredited aristocracy m the civilised world. Britain at a time when she was blinded by prejudice against Germany, a prejudiced begotten and fostered by interested persons — the International War Trust — stretched her hand across the sea to grasp m a friendly clasp the inhuman hand of the tyrant Czar, still dripping with the blood of a murdered people, "jus' struggling to be free." Well might we hope that when Britain withdraws her hand from that imhply clasp, her fingers may not be drenched m innocent blood and her once fair name so far debased, and her very soul so debauched that henceforth Liberty and Freedom on British lips will sound no sweeter than Violence and Despotism. --■ • . '• ' • Of such are the Muscovite Rulers and the said rulers are Britain's allies. Verily war, like poverty, makes strange bed-fellows. Kis good then that Britons the world over have been saved the further humiliation of seeing their flag, The flag /that braved a thousand years, tho battle and the breeze, raised to do battle m defence of the most reactionary and cruel of modern civilised Governments. Much as all humane persons abhor war, that Britain has declared her intention to strand by France, gives cause fox nothing but satisfaction and pride. The French Government and the French people make worthy allies, and no one, however pure and lofty his ideals, can have any hesitation or shame hi aiding them against an aggressive and invading host. British statesmen could not an they would, have done other than they have— on this we are all agreed. Whether the war will be long or short, it is yet tou early to 1 "forecast. "Truth" fancies that, be it long or short, it, will be such as will teach a neverTto-be-i'orgotten lesson to the peoples of all countries involved, and lead them to seek other and' more sane methods of settling their differences. But before they Avill be able to do so they must first depose the iniquitous War Trust and the gang of international diplomats. It may be, no doubt is, true, that the day | of "universal peace is still far dis- ! ta,nt, that armies and navies will be necessary for a long time to como, aud that so long as they are necessary, diplomats will be necessary also. Both these contentious "Truth" readily grants, but it contends that, to obviate corruption and duplicity, it is necessary that so long as Dreadnoughts and munitions of war arc required, they should be manufactured not by a profit-snaring company, many of whose shareholders are citizens of the Governments we lire striving to defeat, but should be produeetl m the States' own workshops: that so long as diplomacy is needed, all diplomats should bft under the control, not of the Cabinet, but of the popular Democratic Chamber. Tho British Parliament to-day— as Parliament —has no voice m the foreign policy of the Liberal Govern mont. It is well-known that treaties aro engineered, signed and sealed without tho consent of. consultation with, or confirmation by tho elected representatives of tin; people. In the event of a certain set of ! circumstances consummating the people, without their knowledge or consent, are pledged to go forth ! killing and to be killed. 11* the present unfortunate interuatioua collision leads up to a successful demand by the peoples' representatives m tho respect ivo Parliaments to havo this state of thinßM remedied, thru tho present condid, will not In? without its measuro of compensation if nut justification.