The Dominion. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1916. A DANGER TO BE FACED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2933, 20 November 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1916. A DANGER TO BE FACED

If gratitude could bo mentioned

m s,nch a connection, Germany would have earned the gratitude of , members of the Entente group bydoing as much as she has done in recent days to impress her true character upon the world. Had' her leading aim been to stamp upon the minds of all observers the fact that she stands alone among nations in her renunciation of faith, honesty, aDd humanity, she could not have succeeded better than she has done of late by the inhuman deportation of men and women from France and Belgium, by the attempt—now nakedly exposed in its true character—to compel unhappy Poland to provide her with an army, and by the resumption of unbridled submarine ■ "frightfulness." In themselves these additions to the long list of crimes for which Germany is answerable can excite only horror and reprobation. But they serve one good purpose in affording incontestable proof that Germany to-day, so far as spirit and intention are concerned, is identical with tho Germany which deliberately plunged the world into war in 1914. At an immediate view this may seem a small matter, but it will not appear in that light to those who look freely abroad and thoughtfully consider the larger issues of the war. It will'on tho contrary appear to such people that in the very infamy of her recent acts Germany has rendered a definite service to humanity and the world. And for this reason. The sclf-rcvclation involved in these acts must tend to. defeat whatever efforts may be made, by direct enemy agency or less directly, to rob the Entente of the full fruits of tho victory for which it is fighting and the world of the conditions making for stable peace in future years which will be achieved only if they victory of tho Entente is decisive and complete. Apart from their immediate infamy the acts which have been mentioned are a signal example of that colossal faculty for blundering which Germany, in all her recent history, has displayed, along with the remarkable faculty for detail organisation which has made her such a dangerous enemy to civilisation. Though morally, unchanged, the Germany of to-day is not in all respects identical with the Germany which set out in 191 <l to master all Europe and break a road to the East. The power-upon which her hopes were based has proved unequal to demands, and she is now essentially tho beast at bay looking for escape from the toils in which she has encompassed herself. Bearing this in mind, her present blunders are manifest. Playing her cards skilfully she would amend her ways, refrain from further crimes in violation of the laws of war, civilisation and humanity, and labour in all ways to eliminate the evil impression she has created. She would seek to gain sympathy as a nation fighting against odds and striving to avert defeat and invasion, lnstead_ of this, Germany by her own acts is making it impossible for any to forget that she and her associates are criminals, visibly unrepentant, upon whom tho sword of justice is descending. Germany may gain some present profit from continuing the fell work of her submarines, from deportations, and from recruiting in Poland. But there is to be set on the other side of the account the effect these acts will have in defeating her own peace intrigues and the efforts of pacifists in other countries, devoted to her interests or blind to tho justice of tho Entente cause, and the final balancing is not likely to prove advantageous to Germany. To say that Germany is playing very badly and clumsily the game in which her success would mean an inconclusive peace is not, of course, to say that the danger of such a, peace is disappearing from view or can be regarded with contempt. It is, on tho contrary, a danger to be vigilantly guarded against to the last day of the war, and its settlement and its continued existence warrants an even graver warning than has lately been given by some English publicists who have written with attention fastened, perhaps, too exclusively upon immediate events in the theatres of war. It ia necessary to recognise that the war raises other dangers than those of actual conflict. That Germany is playing her cards clumsily is so much to the good, but it remains true that the ramifications of her

intrigues for peace extend widely, just how widely will probably not bo known for many years to come. We may quote hero from an article portions of which were reprinted some time ago by the Morninq Post. According to the London daily, La Semoine /Alteraire, in which the article appeared, is a periodical with an excellent reputation. It is published at Geneva. The author of the article is said by La Semainc Littcrairc to be a political personage well versed in international affairs, who occupies an important position in "a great neutral country." Tho anonymous, writer contends that the dominating feature of the present situation is that a network of German influences is spread over belligerent and neutral countries, whoso object is to secure a compromise which will leave Germany in a position to resume at some later date her efforts to extend her dominion —that is to say, to save Germany. These influences work, he declares, in some cases in the open, in others in the shade, but it is obvious that one great purpose is to create an atmosphere of pity for Germany in all neutral countries. Amongst tho influences working in this direction he names the "occult action of cosmopolitan finance." Tho defeat of such intrigues as arc here envisaged depends in part upon the alert vigilance of Entente, statesmen, but not a little upon the spirit and determination of the mass of people in Entente countries. To recognise that a danger exists is not, of course, to say that it cannot be met in whatever form it may take. AVe Have every reason to hope and believe that it can. The stability of the Entente cannot well be subjected fo any severer test than it survived when Russia was offered attractive terms after the disastrous events of 1915. At a later date some home truths, stated in homely language by Mis. Lloyd George, sufficed (it is believed) to deter. President Wilson from a move in the direction of mediation which would have been in fact, though not perhaps in intention, a move in the Interests of Germany. And to-day Germany herself is spoiling her own hand by a continuation of the vile outrages which have robbed her of all title to a vestige of sympathy or consideration. These things make the outlook hopeful, but until Germany , has been brought to unqualified defeat the danger of an inconclusive , peace will demand as vigilant attention as the clanger that would attend any slackening of effort in the war.