WHY BRITAIN IS AT WAR

NZ Truth, Issue 509, 20 March 1915, Page 4

WHY BRITAIN IS AT WAR

111 the guilt not Germany's IS COMMERCIAL RIVALRY BEHIND IT ? Solicitor Jellicoe Jostles the Jingoes

w (Second Article.) I now propose, to show how grieveusly t,he King and the British people have been misled and forced into the war by a troublesome diplomacy. Within a month of King Georges State visit to the President of the French Republic last April and the toasting and feasting over "the exalted ©nds" which Britain and France were •to .'■ ■■ • ■ •- ■ •■- • •• "PURSUE, IN COMMON," an agitation {took place m Servia •which,, on June, 28, culminated m the Serajevq crime against the ( monarchy of Austria- Hungary, 'an international crime which compelled the Austrian Government *oii July 23, to issue an ultimatum to Servia demanding that the ' Government of Servia should "put a stop to a, movement which threatened the safety and integrity of AustriaHungary, arid bring to justice the sponsors of thei.Serajevo murders," all of whom the Austro- Hungarian Government then professed to be able to name. This n6te demanded a reply within forty.reight hours, but before the Servian Government had even time to consider the note the "Times" on the following day, wrote, and on July 25 published m its columns, the view •which France and' Russia held regarding the Austrian,' demands and their intention not to localise the threatened corifllot. « This Is the. memorable statement the 1 .then made: Little is known of the .impression - produced at Belgrade by the Aus-trp-Hungarian ultimatum. At St. Petersburg the impression is pro- " found. A council of Ministers sat for several hours', arid is stated to have taken grave resolutions. A : message has been received from Servia imploring Russian help. • In France considerable irritation and . much anxiety, is shown, The note is described as UNPRECEDENTED IN ITS ARROGANCE and m the extravagance of its demands. Doubt is expressed as to the possibility of localising the dispute. t ,0a the very day on which Austria's ultimatum was received by Servia the President, of the French Republic was actually 7 m Russia banqueting the Tsar and toasting" that monarch m these ■words: \ In these marks of attention which have been showered on me my country will see a fresh guarantee of the splendid consecration of the indissoluble alliance which unites Russia* and France on all questions which,, arise each day before the two Governments, and which demand the concerted activity of their diplomacy. Tho.Tsar!s.repiy,w^s as follows: .» .The concerted action of our two diplomacies and the fraternity which exists; between our land and sea forces will facilitate the task of our two Governments which have been called upon to watch over the interests of our allied peoples. The two Allies nave bound themselves by close ties for ':■ the end of safeguarding their in-/ terests by ; working together for equilibrium. Was it a mere coincidence that the word "equilibrium" was the word used by the French President m addressing •King George "-(at Paris m April and by the' Tsar m;: addressing M. Poincare m Russia- in .July? What was it '• INTENDED TO 1 FORESHADOW In Europe? .It was, consequently, no surprise to anyone possessing an average degree of intelligence. to find that ,on the following day "the two diplomacies, France and Russia, supported .Servia, in her refusal to bring to trial any malefactors' whom Austria-Hun-gary should accuse of the Serajevo murders, or that, as a result, diplomatic relations between Austria and Servia camo to an end on July 25. While all this, was going on, the British Cabinet and the diplomacy the Ministers controlled held themselves aloof, although they were fully awaro of what was actually taking place both ' in' Russia arid Franoe, as detailed m the British Press on July 24 and 25, and the question which presses heavily upon me Is .why the British Gov- ' errimerit, In a, conflict which now threatened the peace of Europe, held 'themselves aloof and . remained dumb from July 23 to July 27? Was it,because they deliberately left Franca and Russia to develop' the situation, or was it because! bt .the great grief the nut lon had publtdjy professod only a few days previously for. the House of llupsburg Ijji the assassination of the j llolr-Presumptlvo'and his Consort, or whu It because the quarrel was • NO CONCERN OF OURS ? No explanation has ever v becn offered. The »lrat step which Britain took wan apparently oh the morning of July 27. when, olftfir giving orders, to tho first and second Fleets not to' disperse, Sir Edward Grey announced that he had Issued invitations to the Ambassadors of franco, Germany, and Italy "to "meet '"him 'in London to endeavor to find a moans of arranging tho present cilJTlcuUles," although we know - from aft Orungo Book, Issued by tho Russian Government, that on the sameday. July 27, the Gorman Ambassador m Paris sought to persuade Franco to nsHoclato herself with Germany In putting prosßure upon Russia at St. re* tersburg to suspend hostilities. 1 Tho nation t« entitled to a ful) disclosure of all that took place between tho diplomncies of Franco and Britain on July 27, for no on 6 can doubt that either tho French Government inform-, ed Sir Edwnril Grey, through the British Ambassador nt Paris, of the nature of the Gonnun communications, or they suppressed it, In which enso tl ; deceived Britain. Whichever is ttus truo explanation, tho result was that as neither Franco nor Britain was willing to brine any pressure to bear upon Ruasla tho Government of the' Tear on July 2H issued an Ckase. ordering partial mobilisation of the Russian forces and on July 31 ordered a general mobilisation, and the world was then told that the Tsar would place himself at tho head of his troops m Russia's determination not to allow I SERVIA TO BE CRUSHED. | All Europe knew that Germany an tho Ally of Austria- Hungary would, In tho event of Russia maklnsr war on Austria- Hungary, he compelled loklv<her protection to Austria anil that. If i«ho did this, (formally would \>n Immediately attacked }jy Franco. *. >•'<> one knew thin better tlirtn Sir KMwurd .('Hey. It \V»h In' view of this ronllnKoney thai tlio (icrmnn Chancellor, In an lijtwrvlmv which he hud with lh« British Ambottxndor at PotHdum on July 2.», :ui;ld that Germany was prepared to give every nfsumnce to the British (toyorntnoMt that Hh<> aimed at no territorial acquisition at ih» exponnn of- France should (Senna ny prove victorious In any war that might vn*ue, and It was only when tha Ambasniidor queriitioried tho Chancellor about jthe French Colonies that Hie Excel-

lency replied that he was unable to give a similar undertaking m that respect. The first, thing that strikes a plain man m connection with this interview is: ;What had the British Ambassador, who held no brief for France, to do with the French Colonies or any limitation. Germany chose voluntarily to impose upon herself m the event mentioned by the German Chancellor? The question was impertinent, even though the Chancellor courteously answered it. The only possible justification for it is that it must have been prompted by some ulterior motive. It looks uncommonly LIKE THE SUBTLE .CROSS-EXAM--' , INATION of a skilled lawyer. Certain it is that the Prime' Minister . now treats the Chancellor's reply as 4 the trump card of his case against Germany.' Wha/t a miserable business it all is. Britain's honor, indeed! On July 30, the perman Ambassador at St. Petersburg inquired whether Russia would not be satisfied with a promise from Austria to respect the- territorial integrity, of Servia, and would put forward some conditions on which Germany could consent to suspend her> armaments. Consider. what has happened.' On July 27 Germany apparently failed at Paris to persuade France to put pressure upon Russia, on July 30 sho' was directly mediating with Russia; and tentatively concluded with Russia the terrhs of a declaration which, but for Sir Edward Grey's subsequent intervention, might have proved acceptable to Austria-Hungary, for wq now know that the Russian Ambassador there and then dictated to "the German Ambassador the following declaration: If Austria, recognising that, the Austro-servlan question has acquired the character of a European question, declares herself ready to remove from her ultimatum tho points that infringe the sovereign rights of Servia, Russia will engage herself to cease her military preparations. We are justified m assuming that Russia at* once communicated the '.NATURE OF THIS COMPROMISE to the • British and French Ambassadors and that they m turn reported to their ' respective governments; while Germany communicated it to the Government of Austria. Britain's diplomacy, however, was not content to leave well alone. Sir Edward Grey intervened. The declaration which Russia had dictated, and which , satisfied [Germany arid possibly-Aiistrla-Hun-g&ry was not to his llkirigl«As it stood I Britain 'was' out of the compromise, and why not? The dispute which had arisen was no concern of ours. Neither were the terms of it;s settlement •They were solely the concern of Russia, acting for Servia, and AustriaHungary. Sir Edward' Grey now insisted upon the terms of the declaration being modified so as to make it read thus:' '• • •>• ' " " If Austria' wilf consent to chock tho advance of her armies" on Servian territory .and if, recognising that the Austro-Servlan conflict Has acquired the character of a question of European interest, she admits that' the Great Powers shall examine the satisfaction which Servia might give to . the Austro - Hungarian Government without infringement of her independence or of her rights as a Sovereign State, Russia will bind herself to maintain an expectant attitude. And. then after imposing the new terms, which, it will be observed, substituted for Russia's engagement to cease military preparations, an undertaking to maintain "AN EXPECTANT ATTITUDE" only, Sir Edward Grey, apparently to save appearance or prolong the negotiations, informed the German Ambas-y sadors that if Germany could get any proposal -put forward which made it clear that Germany and Austria were trying to preserve European peace and that Russia and 'Franco would be 1 unreasonable if they rejected it, he would support it at St. Petersburg and Paris, and go the length of saying that if Russia and France, would not accept it the British Governments would have nothing more to do with the consequences. The proposed amendment amounted to this: that it should bo loft to Britain, France, Russia, Germany, and Italy, by a majority, to decide the future destinies of AustriaHungary. It was, no doubt, Sir Edward Grey's faith m tho rule of majorities and the machine which m Britain automatically records these majorities, that led him into seeking to ' introduco tho same impartial instrut ment into the settlement of internaI tlonal disputes, while the alternative ! to an absolute acceptance of the modification which he put forward was that Germany and Austria should formulate such other proposals as, m the opinion of Sir . Edward Grey, Russia and France would be unreasonable In rejecting. Surely no responsible Statesman could reasonably havo anticipated that the Governments of Germany and Austria- Hungary "would, In the first placo, listen to. any material | alteration being imposed BY A RANK OUTSIDER upon terms which, subject only to Aus- i trla's .consent, had m fact been practically concluded, or that they would consent to place Sir Edward Grey of all men In tho position of arbiter of the reasonableness of any counter proposal. 1 g.lvo'Slr Edward Grey credit for not anticipating anything so ridiculous. What, then, was the object of the Intervention? Britain is entitled to know, and should demand an answer , before any additional Innocent blood of our people Is spent m this war. Ger- J many and Austria apparently treated Sir Edward Groy's Intervention at this stage nx mischievous. Render, m your heart of hearts, can you honestly hold a different view? Accordingly, Germany al onc,e issued double ultimatums lo Russia and Franco, declaring that unless Russian mobilisation were tuispcnded within twelve hours the German forces would also be mobilised. Now, had the Governments of France or Britain desired to localise Uu> quarrel between Austria and Hervla or to pcrserve tho peace of Europe either, or both. 'of tht'SC Powers had Mill twelve hours within which to bring pruHsurp to lif-ar m Induce -Russia to .suspend h*-r moblUsntlnn for some de- | Unite i":iS'.n:il»l,- period to enable tho dlMleultu-s lo b>< ud.lu.-nrd at sumo In- ■ IfTitatiunal roi»(Vr<net\ Neither I i-'nmiM: n..i- r.rluun did anything of tho. kind. Th«- rcumm wu« obvious. /The (.•owrmiifnt of ei,i;b nmlun warned war. [A further article by Mr. .i».]lli:o». will ajif'M-ar In nrxt wt-clt'x "Truth "-• Kd. "T." | Th«y wiy that there.* a jfrout fHllliv; off In the mini revenue: Home line* are not paying anything like they u^.ml to. No wonder, look ltow many trnvcl on at rap.