FIGHT TO A FINISH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2274, 7 October 1914, Page 6

FIGHT TO A FINISH

PERIL OF PREMATURE PEACE. Tho following highly important letter from Mr. G..\V. I'rothcro, editor of the "Quarterly Review," was printed in "iho Times" of August 20:— The nation as a whole has responded with' gallantry and resolution to tho call of duty.. But there is some evidence that in large and influential sections of the population the war is not regarded' with whole-hearted approval, or, indeed, approved at'all. And the reason is that, even if the demands of honour and the maintenance of treaties make a widely understood appeal, the fact that our vital interests as a nation are involved is not fully apprehended. This fact can hardly, be grasped by anyone who has not carefully watched the course of recent history, or who is unacquainted with the underlying ideas of : Germany polioy and. statecraft, as set forth in their newspapers, their books, and especially the long series of pamphlets which during the last'ten years have issued from their Press. These prove beyond a doubt ii) any unprejudiced mind. that our great-.-ness, our very existence', are threatened by a German triumph in the struggle which has now begun. ... The danger is that, in one set of circumstances or another, tho vast masses of the working people in the north and centre of England, unless they are enlightened betimes as to the true character of the struggle and tho vital interests involved, may by and by raise their voices and ask what we are fighting about, and with increasing vehemence press the demand for peace. This is cortain to happen if we arc tomporariU worsted either by sea or land; it will probably happen when the economi" pressure, of which wo have only just seen the fringe, becomes serious; but it is very likely to happen also when, if ever, the tide turns distinctly in our favour, and people begin to''think they see a chance of withdrawing, on terms at least advantageous to-onrSelves. It is hardly necessary to point out that such a premature withdrawal might be almost as disastrous as a defeat, and would inevitably deprive us of our proper weight in the settlement which will end tho , war. In view of this danger I would_ siipcgest tho formation of an association which would undertake to send qualified speakers to address working-class constituencies throughout tho. country, and to explain the reasons which, once tho challenge has been made, compel us to take up tho glove, and, for the sako.of ourselves and still more for our posterity, to fight out the struggle to the end. There is no need that such addresses should be bitter or inflammatory: they should merely aim at setting forth tho truth —that is, that we. havo to onto with an unscrupulous aristocracy, with an aggressive military caste, and with tho principle that Might maker. R.ijrht carrier! to nn extreme which civilisation cannot endure.