Germanic
imperialism; profit by this threefold lesson to make an end of
imperialism in your country, and by your good example to render to
Europe an incalculable service.

Such an example will be more efficacious than overhasty or superficial
intervention, however well intentioned it might be. Above all, beware of
offering aid to Europe in a spirit of opportunism rather than of high
principle. Especially, do not try to take advantage of some
circumstances in order to urge a lame and ephemeral peace. Public
opinion will be bitterly divided if the war is brought to an end merely
by lassitude and a desire for comfort. Public opinion will accept only a
peace inspired with high ideals, without needless humiliation for the
conquered, and equally without sacrifice of any principles which have
brought together the anti-German coalition.

The war itself, however atrocious it has been and still may be, will
have been only a commencement, the beginning of continual wars into
which the New World will be drawn, if we do not leave the desire of life
and the means of living to Germany, conquered but still alive. It is
possible to conquer and to exterminate armies, but it is not possible to
exterminate a nation of 70,000,000 people. It will then be necessary to
make a place for Germany which will permit the exercise of her fecund
activity in the struggle of universal competition. If we yield to the
temptation to make an end of German competition, we shall neither end
the competition nor shall we end war.

For years I have repeated this to our English friends who were
intoxicated with the theories of Chamberlain. I see without surprise but
with sorrow that serious journals of London and Paris spread before the
eyes of their readers the absurd idea that this war will kill the German
foreign commerce, while the English and French production will be
enriched without a rival, and consequently without effort. Place should
be made for Germany from Berlin to Vienna in the organization of a
general European confederation which will give full satisfaction to
Italy at Trieste, will install the Turkish Government in Asia, will
bring about an agreement between the Christian Balkan States, and give
the free disposal of their destinies to Poland, Denmark, Finland,
Hungary, Rumania, and Alsace-Lorraine.

In this manner the worst problems on which general peace depends would
be solved, and with these problems that of armaments, which it would no