The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1918. MIASMA OF PACIFIST CLAIMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1918. MIASMA OF PACIFIST CLAIMS.

The papers to hand by the tot mail show that Lord Lansdowne's peace letter came as a thunderbolt. Fifteen hundred Conservative and Unionist members and delegates immediately met and disowned their late leader's outburst and passed an emphatic resolution of condemnation. Mr. Bonar Law described the publication of the letter as "a national misfortune." The newspapers, with the exception of The Nation, and the other peacc-at-any-pricers, tore the ex-leader's statements to threads. The Observer was particularly incisive and convincing. It was clear, it said, that nothing but harm to the Allies' cause and to the purpose of a right and lasting peace could come from such a publication at such a juncture The effect on the Central League could c.'.y be. encouraging to Germany and her partners. The effect on Russia could only be encouraging to the Bolsheviks and pro-Germans. The effect in Britain could only be encouraging to the pacifists. The effect in France and Italy could only be alarming and depressing at a trying hour—could only help anti-Bri-tish propaganda to play on suspicion. There are plenty of people abroad who urge France and Italy to leave Britain in the lurch on the plea that Britain ■otherwise will leave them in the lurch. Above all the effect in the United States as well as in Canada and Australia, could only be bad for Britain's friends and good for her enemies. It could only chill American feeling and hinder American preparation—the sheet-anchor of solid security for the world's hopes. What is the measure of Lord Lansdownc's practical sagacity when he comes to business? Germany is to evacuate and compensate Belgium, but is to have a pretty free hand in "the south-east' ,of Europe," and, by implication, in the whole east of Europe. We are. to make concessions, if you please—apparently in view of future, wars—with regard to "the | freedom of the sea- '' That is, we are to renounce the right of blockade. Further, there are to be generous facilities for German trade without any concrete securities for peace. German militarism, and that of her partners, is to remain, arid for its crimes Lord Lansdowne lias no further word of moral rebuke. "The war lias gone on too long." Therefore, the Germans are not to be fought out of Belgium, France, ~nd Italy. fhey are to be bought out. The precious negotintions are to take place upon a manifest basis of German victory—the mightiest victory by far, if the military situation remained what it is now, ever won by a strong people in arms against the world. German militarism is to stand in glory, unbroken, erect, triumphant. The"German political system and its whole theory of war-made'-to-pay, of thorough crime approved by success, would be vindicated anew in the eyes of the German people as against all the confused and discomfited democrats who could not see it through. Lord Lansdowne's settlement would be an apotheosis for the Kaiser and Hindenburg. As to the future, we are to have more 'scraps of paper" in the interests or peace. Wc are to have "a iLeague of Nations" pledged to employ force and the economic boycott against the disturbers of peace. Armaments are to continue. There would be the old process of "pres-

sine—counter-pressure—explosion." The League of Nations .n siicli circumstances would bo iv Lea«uc undei Germany's heiulship. It would he sjvf ai" lor nil Continental nations., after their vxperieuce <>f tills war, and after such an iseue of it as Lord Lansdowne woyld bring about, to keep ill with Germany and the Centra] uloc. On his easy principles as regards "South-Eastern Europe," Serbia, and Roumania, and even Greece, would have to join that Central bloc*. The Observer concluded, and its worcls have partial?'!' force in the light of the German Chancellor's recent bombastic statements: "The test of victory is itfruits, and they are not yet 'ripe to gather. We must iteep the gloves 0:1 till we have knocked our adversary nut of time. We talk about this, and that war aim. Complete victory is the only aim that matters. Given this and Lord Lansdowne will get the security he wants. He can get it in no other way. The Daily Mail recalled that Lord Lansdowne in 1903 was actually discovered in the act of pledging Britain to join in building and paying for the Baghdad Railway, the knife with which Germany meant to cut our throat in India. Now at 7*2, lie thinks that martyred Belgium rtiust have "reparation," 'but he a9ks for "a suspension of judgment'' about murdered Serbia, and concedes by silence Germany's supreme ambition, which is her roadto the Middle East. He is, and has always been, a blamelessly feeble and irresolute man, never a great leader; always a temporiser, never one who with "fire in'his belly" spoke in the true ringing voice of England. Lord Lansdowne got his answer in the sneering speech of Baron von Kuhlmann in the German Reichstag next day and von Hertling's speech on Saturday. What lvuhiman said amounted to this: "If you want peace you must humbly ask Germany for it." The League of Nations which Lord Lansdowne would form already exist o ,. Eighteen States are' engaged in defending freedom. Nine States have brokon off relations with Germany but have not yet entered the field. If this League of Liberty cannot now enforce its will against the central autocracies, then all leagues are jforedoomed to impotence. Lovers of permanent peace will see that a supposed triumphant and still unrepentant Germany remains to be defeated. Otherwise no peace 13 possible, except a truce t 0 last a few years at best. The nation knows that the only choice is between clear victory in a long struggle and immeasurable calamity as a result of failure and surrender, however ingeniously camouflaged. Britain will have none of it. Its watchword is that of William Jennings Bryan, once the prince of pacifists: ''Get together and fight like the devil." No other sound war-aim can be secured unless the one indispensable waraim of defeating Germany is achieved. The nation's own mind must be made known on these things. The miasma of pacifist claims, wire-pulling intrigue, and wavering suggestion must be dispelled.