"
[German "White Paper," Annex 2.]
In reaching its conclusion our imaginary court would pay little
attention to mere professions of a desire for peace. A nation, like an
individual, can covertly stab the peace of another while saying, "Art
thou in health, my brother?" and even the peace of civilization can be
betrayed by a Judas kiss. Professions of peace belong to the cant of
diplomacy and have always characterized the most bellicose of nations.
No war in modern times has been begun without the aggressor pretending
that his nation wished nothing but peace and invoking Divine aid for its
murderous policy. To paraphrase the words of Lady Teazle on a noted
occasion when Sir Joseph Surface talked much of "honor," it might be as
well in such instances to leave the name of God out of the question.
Let us, then, analyze the record as already made up; and for the sake of
clearness the events which preceded the war will be considered
chronologically.
Immediately upon the receipt of the ultimatum in St. Petersburg on July
24, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a formal communication
to Austria-Hungary, suggested that the abrupt time limit "leaves to the
powers a delay entirely insufficient to undertake any useful steps
whatever for the straightening out of the complications that have
arisen," and added:
"To prevent the incalculable consequences, equally disastrous
for all the powers, which can follow the method of action of
the Austro-Hungarian Government, it seems indispensable to us
that, above all, the delay given to Servia to reply should be
extended.
Pages:
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37