The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1915. THE CAUSES OF THE WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 5, 6 May 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1915. THE CAUSES OF THE WAR.

In Liu? course of a lengthy article which lie contributes to the Grand Revue, M. Take Jonescu, a distinguished Roumanian statesman and writer endeavours to trace the causes of the world-conflict that is at piesent desolating Europe and extending its baleful influence to almost every quarter of tho globe. He points out that the causes of the events we are now witnessing are many and complex, and not nearly so simple as German savants would like the world to believe. Mr.' .Jonescu puts in the forefront of tho circumstances that have led to the great catastrophe tin' growth of Prussian militarism. The World-Empire of tho Romans was to be re-established for the benefit of the Germans and the House of Hohen/ollern. Rut in order to achieve this great object it was necessary that England should bo destroyed. After taking, step by step, the path of the schemers over some years leading up to the actual outbreak of hostilities, M. Jonescu goes to relate that so late as July 27th of last year, the German Ambassador in London firmly believed that peace would be maintained, and lie inclines to believe, lie says, that the Emperor William left for Norway without having definitely made up his mind to provoke war at any price, as he did on his return. “I think.” he proceeds, “that the Epiperor William only decided in favour of an immediate war on the day on which lie returned to Rerlin or the day before that. He succumbed to tho warlike atmosphere. Suddenly ho conceived the idea that Russia and France were unprepared, that internal troubles existed in France and England, in England especially, and his mind was made up. Nothing could then stop him. Austria became a prey to a salutary terror, and at the eleventh hour showed a disposition to listen to reason, but the Emperor William would not hear of it, and, with Ids incorrigible impetuosity, precipitated the war. In brief, then, it was Germany that created the situation resulting in a European war, but it was not Germany alone which fixed the date and precipitated the outbreak. Her responsibility is nevertheless great, for never would Austria have dared if Germany had not left her a free hand.” In brief, tho war, at some time, was determined upon by Germany when she was sure of crushing Britain : hut William went mad. and took the plunge too early.