The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1914. THE CAUSE OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 69, 11 August 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1914. THE CAUSE OF THE WAR.

In the intense excitement caused by the hostilities in which France, Russia, Germany, Austria, Belgium and Britain are now engaged the factors which involved these nations in war are likely to be lost sight of. It is not necessary to consider the earlier moves that refer to the Austro-Servian emhroglio which was so evidently engineered by Germany for a purpose that has now been made perfectly clear. That purpose was r ,o enable Germany to have another tlln& at France while pretending tc pose as the world's peacemaker, preparatory to measuring swords with Britain. How insincere were those pretensions is de monstrated by the carefully made plans for taking prompt action to strike a great blow at her old enemy, France, and at the same time, with Austria's help, engage Russia in conflict. The correspondence in the White Paper containing Sir Edward Grey's communications with the Great Powers shows that Britain's active participation in the discussions was initiated for the very humane purpose of averting on AustroServian struggle, but that Germany infused to entertain the proposed conference on the ground that it was more like, a Court of Arbitration than a conference. Then came the question ot Russian mobilisation. During the correspondence between the Kaiser and the Czar as to Russia's intervention in the interests of Servia, the Czar welcomed the Kaiser's proposed mediation between Russia and Austria, but insisted that the Russian military operations should not cease pending the negotiations, though ho pledged his word that the troops would not take provocative action while negotiations were proceeding. The British Ambassador ascertained from the. German Secretary of State that if Russia mobilised on the south Germany would not mobilise, but that if Russia mobilised on the north Germany would have to do so, so that Germany would not be taken by surprise. On July 28 the German Chancellor told the British Ambassador that war between the Great Powers must be avoided, and thereupon the whole choice of methods to put mediation into operation was placed in Germany's hands. This put to the test . German sincerity, for she only had to press the button of peace and, there would have been no war. Moreover, Sir Edward Grey stated to the Cerman Ambassador that if Germany would put for ward a proposal that would make it clear that Germany and Austria ware strong to preserve peace, Mid should Russia and France be unreasonable, Britain would support the proposal at St. Petersburg and Paris. If the latter declined to accept it, Britain would have nothing further to do with the consequences: otherwise, if France became involved, Britain would he drawu in. On tiie same day it was known that Russia had mobilised, and that Germany had followed suit. It is quite evident that had Germany desired peace Britain would have heartily co-operated and averted war, but Austria had already mobilised, then Russia and Germany took the same course, and Hie fires of war were lighted. In his speech made in the House of Commons on tlie 7th inst., Mr. Asquith eloquently justified Britain's intervention, and emphasised the fact that "the sword had been unsheathed in a just cause. They were fighting for the principle that reliance could be placed on the national good faith, and to vindicate the principle that small nations shall not he crushed in defiance of international good faith at the arbitrary will of a strong overmastering Power." Perhaps the woist feature in the whole business was the German Chancellor's offer regarding the French colonies and small States. In referring to this, Mr. Asquith pointed out that these proposals meant that, behind France's back, Germany should be. given free license to annex France's extra European possessions. An assurance had been given regarding the independence and neutrality of Holland, but no mention had been made of Belgium's neutrality. Naturally, Mr. Asquith stated that Britain could not allow Belgium's rights to be bartered away to the Power that was threatening her, and that Britain's obligations were to keep her pliglhted word. Truly, as Mr. Asquith observed, no nation ever entered a great conflict with a clearer conscience. Germany's first act was to invade the neutral territory of Belgium, and it is against the arrogance of Germany that the forces of the Triple Entente, together with Belgium and Holland, are now arraigned. It is a just ' and righteous fight against an armed despot suffering from religious hallucinations, who would ride rough-shod over all the people of the world. But, judging from the course of events, his ride will neither be a long nor a pleasant one.