There were warning voices in the countries which had inscribed neutrality on their banners. but the majority stood behind the traditional poli Their excuse was that neutrality in itself tends to magnify the self-delusion of escape and that a system which excludes the coordination of weak individual national forces into a larger alliance with more powerful countries. is not conductive to awakening the will to take sides before it is too late and the invader has arrived.
That it was the system that was at fault and not the peoples was proved in every case. Most in aded peoples defended themselves like heroes. all were vanquished because their policy of neutrality had precluded them from arranging for sufficient outside help in time.
The awakening was rude. Yet the ufferings will not have been in vain f all countries who are prepared to die for their liberty now stand united together, if all countries which the tyranny of aggression has forced into en alliance will, now and in future. of their own free will. ce-operate in their common defence. if neutrality allows itself to be swept away by an irresistible impulse to unite all efforts to safeguard the common destinies of all freedom-loving nations.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.