Aug.
Sixteen years ago to-day the whole of the Allies with the exception of America, China and a few others were at war with the German Alliance. Practically four years later saw the commencement of that phase of the long-drawn-out hostilities which brought the struggle to a swift close a bare three and a half months after. It is not necessary, now, to review the happenings of that period of nightmare save to emphasize the fact that precedents in warfare were set which makes humanity dread another such experience and has set it to work during these last twelve years to devise expedients whereby a repetition may be avoided, Beside this search for the principles of a permanent peace there has progressed that struggle foreseen and dreaded during the years of fighting by the economists who were beginning to appreciate the truths enunciated by Norman Angell in "The Great Iusion." Not only has the world at large learned that a victorious war need no longer be a profitable one, but for over a decade it has been taught that military hostilities such cases are but the prelude of an eve sterner conflict, which deadlier blows are' exchanged, less quarter given and the only victory eventual sei? preservation. Thus the high ideals with which the representatives of the Allies met to formulate the Treaty of Versailles have been somewhat lowered with the passing of years, principle has so often been subordinated to the most temporary of expedients, old shiba boleths have so frequently raised their ugly heads that even the optimist is inclined sometimes to wonder how far humanity learning the lessons which the war should have taught.
The League of Nations, established of high purpose through the leadership of President Wilson has not, and cannot, so far as can be seen at present, fulfil the great functions expected of it. Not only is America not a member of it, but in the economic war which is developing with an astonishing rapidity, she is surrounding the splendour of her diplomatic isolation with a tariff wall which represents one of the most serious challenges to the rest of the world. Is it any wonder, therefore, that, while Briand's Scheme for an economic federation of Europe is regarded with some coldness at the present moment, it has not been so definitely declined by any country to whom it was submitted as to preclude the possibility of something of the sort being effected in the future? The very fact that such a statesman as M. Briand. thought it either advisable" or opportune to put such a proposal forward is provably the best test of the true efficacy of the League as a cure for the ills it was designed to remedy. The Federation scheme may do what the League apparently was never intended to do, It is designed to prevent the establishment of a universal economic hegemony than which there could be a no more serious menace to a lasting peace. Attempts at the limitation of armaments appear no happier. After original failures a pact has bees signed by the three principle Naval Powers which seems to satisfy no one in particular. has contributed to the estrangement of at least two countries, and has given cause for no small degree of anxiety on the part of some sections of the British Empire.
It would be: possible to recite at very considerable length the number of apparent failures of this peace—the very remodelling of Europe under the Treaty to accord self-expression to pational minorities is not the least of them—until the list would give pleasure to the soul of the most gloomy of optimists. Even flirt high faith with which the war was left behind seems to have lost some of its qualities. But it is still there and with it a great deal of real perception of the dangers which lie ahead. It in this that the greatest promise for the future can be seen, for, if the mistakes of the past ten years are courageously faced and their lesson learned, it m very well be that the worst already over. The universal existence of high tariff walls may, in the long run, be no ditferent from the common application of the doctrine of free trade, but, whichever exists, the struggle for the sources of industrial wealth will be just as keen, There is then very little to hops until the present peace has run the course of its hostilities, In the meantime, however, much ground can be explored in search of the ultimate good of humanity, If this be done, if the mistakes of the past are transformed into true achievements of the future the blood sacrifice which was made sixteen years ago may still bring to mankind those benefits in the hope of which it was in offered.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.