The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1927. WAR GUILT.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1927. WAR GUILT.

I Of the writing of war memoirs there appears to be no end. The generals and admirals have had their fling many of them using a very facile pen, which in some cases is certainly proving mightier than the swords—if they carried any during the Great War. Most of their criticism is very destructive and many public idols of the war period seem to take on a new shape. At the same time, much of the matter is not new, it- has been told before though perhaps not in such vigorous language. However, the strategists will take a long time to convince each other how and why the war was won or lost. Posterity will be grappling with the various stories when the chronicle endeavours to put the course of events in true historic perspective. It is interesting, however, to have the diplomats version of aspects of the war, and none are more interesting at this juncture than the memoirs published by .Prince Lichnowsky who was the German Ambassador in London at the outbreak of the war. British papers published at the time of the commencement of hostilities told the story very clearly, but there ha.s been much shuffling to escape war guilt in Germany. The memoirs of the Ambassador seem to fix the guilt on Germany as definitely as did the British statement at the very outset of the war. Lord Grey, of Fallodon, who was Foreign Secretary, referring, in his book “Twenty-five Years,” to the work of Prince Lichnowsky, during the momentous days just prior to the outbreak of war, states that “no man had worked harder to avoid war than Lichnowsky, or more genuinely hated this coming war.” Reviewing the subsequent events and dealing with the prompt recall of the German Ambassador from London, Lord Grey states: “Lichnowsky has necessarily shared the misfortunes from which he tried so earnestly to save his country. He had been the trusted agent of the German Government in keeping the peace of Furope in 1912-13 at the conference in ' London (concerning the Balkan troubles). He knew how easily _ the crisis of 1914 might have been avoided by similar methods after the Serbian reply to the Austrian ultimatum; but the German Government would neither use him nor agree to the method of conference. Do his countrymen yet recognise not only how clear he was of any responsibility, but the debt they owe him for his efforts for peace during the whole time of his embassy in London? We, at any rate, remember I him gratefully for having tried to I 1

avert a war that has been a calamity for everyone, victors as well as vanquished.” Regarding Britain’s entry into the conflict, the former Foreign Secretary states “The real reason for going into the war was that, if we did not stand by France and stand up for Belgium against the aggression of Germany, we should be isolated, discredited and hated; and there would be before us nothing but a miserable and ignoble future.” During the war Prince Lichnowsky published liis memoirs of Germany’s pre-war diplomacy, particularly of the period leading up lo the 191-1 upheaval. He completely exonerated Lord Grey, and roundly condemned Germany as being responsible for the war. The memoirs were published widely in Allied countries, as justification for the stand taken against the Central Powers. In his latest publication the sometime Ambassador admits that he himself repeatedly informed Berlin that, in the event of an attack on France, Germany must reckon with Britain’s enmity. 'flic Prince writes: “Viscount Grey, then British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, repeatedly said to me: ‘lf war breaks out it will be the greatest catastrophe the world has ever scon.’ Ho was right. No statesman who wants war talks like that.. It was the foolish alliance with Austria which led to Germany’s ruin, coupled with the blindness and intractability of German statesmen. Grey was ready to meet us on every question. There was only one thing I could never have achieved, namely, to hold Grey hack from participating in the world war the moment we declared war against France, and on top of that violated Belgian neutrality.” ’file issue of the memoirs at this juncture is considered to have an epoch marking effect in German polities, in that the authentic story shows that while official Germany is busy denying responsibility for the war, Prince Lichnowsky at any rale is under no illusions as to who caused tht war. With such complete official evidence produced from its own side, Germany might well cease to protest against the war guilt which is- so obviously proved.