The West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15, 1913. WHO ARE THE MAKERS OF WAR?

West Coast Times, 15 January 1913, Page 2

The West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15, 1913. WHO ARE THE MAKERS OF WAR?

Tim Loudon Times some weeks ago published a remarkable article inspired by the fear Unit nut ot the Balkan struggle then regarded as practically at an end, would grow a greater war involving some of tho European Powers. “ I here is not ereat nation in Europe which today lias the least desire that millions ol men should he tern from their hemes and Hung headlong to destruction at tho bidding of vain ambitions,” said the Times. “The Balkan peoples fought for a pause which was peculiarly their own. They were inspired by tho memories of ecuturies of wrong which they were burning to avenge. The larger nations have no such quarrel, unless it is wilfully manufactured for them. The eommonsense of the peoples of Europe is well awaro that no issue lias been presented which could not he settled by amicable discussion. In England men will learn with amazement and incredulity that wards possible-over the question of a Servian port,' or even over tho larger issues which are said to lie around it. ' Yet that is whither the nations are blindly drifting. AA’ho. then, makes war? Tho answer is to lie ionnd in the Chancellories of Europe, among the men who have too long played with human lives as pawns in a game, of chess, who have become so enmeshed in formulas and the jargon of diplomacy that they have ceased to be conscious of the poignant realities with which they trifle. And thus will war continue to lie made,” added the Times, “until the great masses who are the sport of professional schemers and dreamers say the word which shall bring, not eternal peace, For that is impossible, hut a de 7 termination that wars shall he fought only in a just and righteous and vital cause. If that word is ever to he spoken, there never was a more appropriate occasion than the. present; and we trust it will he spoken while there is time.” That is a line statement, and a very remarkable one, considering that it was made by the. Times.. “This sudden revolt against the, old diplomacy is,” says tho AVestminster, “pretty high language for tho journal, which more than any other in Europe is regarded as the organ of the Chancelleries and their traditional diplomacy. When the Times turns to the Gentiles, and. begs the masses to come in and put the ‘professional schemers’ in their places, we may well become awaro of the profound repugnance with which culinary men and women regard the drift of a polite diplomacy towards the shambles,” But another statement made by tho Times the day before is equally remarkable, it declared that:

“The spectacle of tlie great, C’hristian Powers drilling automatically into conliiei. over the termination of 500 years nf misrule in tin; Balkans would lie reyarded in (treat Britain as a crime against civilisation and a confession of ike utter failure of European progress and ideals.”