on
honestly and going over ninety percent of the way towards an amicable
adjustment, the diplomacy that could not obtain peace out of such a
situation, must have been imbecile or corrupt to the last degree.

An American historian discussing causes in the early stages of the war,
said:

"The German Imperial Chancellor pays no high compliment to the
intelligence of the American people when he asks them to believe
that 'the war is a life-and-death struggle between Germany and the
Muscovite races of Russia', and was due to the royal murders at
Sarajevo.

"To say that all Europe had to be plunged into the most
devastating war of human history because an Austrian subject
murdered the heir to the Austrian throne on Austrian soil in a
conspiracy in which Serbians were implicated, is too absurd to be
treated seriously. Great wars do not follow from such causes,
although any pretext, however trivial, may be regarded as
sufficient when war is deliberately sought.

"Nor is the Imperial Chancellor's declaration that 'the war is a
life-and-death struggle between Germany and the Muscovite races of
Russia' convincing in the slightest degree. So far as the Russian
menace to Germany is concerned, the Staats-Zeitung is much nearer
the truth when its editor, Mr. Ridder, boasts that 'no Russian army
ever waged a successful war against a first-class power.'

"The life-and-death struggle between Germany and the Muscovite
races of Russia is a diplomatic fiction invented after German
Autocracy, taking advantage of the Serbian incident, set forth to
destroy France. It was through no fear of Russia that Germany
violated her solemn treaty obligations by invading the neutrality
of Belgium and Luxemburg. It was through no fear of Russia that
Germany had massed most of her army near the frontiers of France,
leaving only six army corps to hold Russia in check. Germany's
policy as it stands revealed by her military operations was to
crush France and then make terms with Russia. The policy has failed
because of the unexpected resistance of the Belgians and the
refusal of Great Britain to buy peace at the expense of her honor."

A nearer and equally clear view is expressed for the French by M.
Clemenceau, who early in the war said:

"For twenty-five years William II has made Europe live under t