The Dominion TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1915. DISTORTED IDEAS OF JUSTICE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2422, 30 March 1915, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1915. DISTORTED IDEAS OF JUSTICE

There seems to be an unnecessary amount of anxiety, among a certain small but influential scction of the British public that in the great settling up which is going to take place wnen the war is over nothing should be done to humiliate Germany. An endeavour is' being made to spread this sentiment throughout thp land by means of sermons, speeches, and letters to the newspapers, and something in the nature of an organised "Don't humiliate Germany' campaign seems to havo been set going. It is ijot surprising that such a movement is giving risa to a considerable amount of resentment in many quarters. Most people feel that the domineering Prussian spirit, which for years has led to an endeavour to bully and terrorise Europe, ought to be humiliated. The abasement of the Pan-German warmakers is the only way of giving the world a lasting pcace. This is the opinion of the vast majority of the British public, . and it is only natural that a protest should bo raised in regard to the delivery of a "Don't Humiliate Germany" address at St. Margaret's, "Westminster, the church of the House of Commons. The preacher was the Peadmaster of Eton (Dr. LyttelThe cablegram dealing with the incident gives no information as # to what Dr. Lyttelton actually said, but the storm of indignation which tho address appears to havo aroused shows that he must have made a decidedly • pronounced plea in favour of a settlement that would wound German prido as slightly as possible. The idea of the "don't humiliate" movement is to create an atmosphere which would tell in Germany's favour when the representatives of the belligerents come, to decide the terms of peace. An address delivered on Saturday night at the P re-sessional Conference of the University ' Christian Union held at Victoria College is pervaded by this same conciliatory spirit. Referring to the reconstruction which must follow the war, Mr. D. S. Smith spoke about the creation of an atmosphere which must be commenced now. No one can object to the contention that the conditions imposed on the vanquished should, be "just, honourable, -and in accord with the highest ideals of which we know," but the speaker treads on very debatable ground when he declares that "it would be to our everlasting disgrace if we were to demand from' our enemies an enormous war indemnity." The time has not yet come for the detailed discussion of the peace settlement, but there would be nothing unjust or disgraceful in the imposition of an adequate indemnity. Justice demands that Germany should ■be made to pay for the frightful destruction she has wrought in Belgium and France. It is not justice, but the invertion of justice, to show clemency to the wrongdoer at the expense of his victim. A criminal nation which has made an unprovoked attack on a neighbouring State ought to be compelled to make reparation for the wrong done, and if it should be decided that reparation should take the form of a hea,vy indemnity, can it be said that such a decision would be either unjust or dishonourable 1

There undoubtedly exists in British scholastic circles a tendency to over-estimate the world's intellectual debt to Germany, and this feeling gives rise to an inclination to overlook the enormity of her offence , in wantonly plunging Europe into this terrible war. This sentiment is finding expression in a number of well-meant but none the less mischievous suggestions. Foo.' instance. Professor Pigou, of Cambridge University, urges that the time has come for the Allies to make known, in rough general outline, the torms of peace they are prepared to agree to. Such a step would simply encourage the enemy to fight harder than ever by creating the belief that wo were reaching the limit of our resources and were on the verge of suing for peacc. It is no time for Britain and her allies to talk about peace while tho German armies arc on French soil and while the enemy is still in possession of the larger part of Belgium. A patchcd-up agreement which would leave things just as they were before the war would be a disastrous mistake. It would simply give the Prussian war pa.rty breathing time, and an opportunity to make ready for the renewal of the struggle at a more convenient and opportune season. The Germans themselves fully recognise that they are faced with the alternative of world domination or downfall. It is an alternative of their own creation. Their special aim is the destruction of the British Empire, and their triumph would mean our downfall, the conquest of Franco, and the humiliation of Russia. Nothing would give Germany more pleasure than to humiliate Britain. We do not, however, want to return hate for hate, nor do we desire to be vindictive or brutal. We do not wish * to blot Germany from the map of Europe, nor have we _ any lust for mere revenge to satisfy. But we know what we arc fighting for! Britain, France, and Russia have made their position clear to all the world. "We shall never sheathe the sword," said Mir. Asqijith in his famous Guildhall speech, "until Belgium recovers in full measure all and more than all she has sacrificed: until France is adequately secured against the menace of aggression; until the .rights of the smaller nationalities of Europe are placed upon an unassailable foundation ; until the military domination uf Prussia, is wholly and finally destroyed," If

these ends cannot be attained without the humiliation ol Gerniaiiy. and a war indemnity, then Germany will have to he humiliated and a war indemnity will have to be paid. M. Sabatiek has well said that a Frenchman; cannot now utter the word "peace." Neither should an Englishman. "Horror of war," as Lord Bryce recently remarked, "dominates every other feeling—except that of the needed resolution to light it through. Deliver us all from another armed peace." The present business of the Empire is "to light it through," and it will bo time enough to state our terms of peace when tho enemy asks us for them.