French Hate and English Jealousy
By Kuno Francke.
It is easy to see why American public opinion should have condemned by
an overwhelming majority the diplomatic acts of Austria and Hungary
which have been the immediate occasion of the terrific explosion which
now shakes the foundations of the whole civilized world. Austria's break
with Servia and Germany's violation of Belgian neutrality--the one
leading to war between Russia and Germany, the other bringing England
into the fray--must appear to the uninitiated as reckless and
indefensible provocations and as wanton attacks upon the laws of
nations.
The thoughtful observer, however, should look beyond the immediate
occasion of this world conflict and try to understand its underlying
causes. By doing so he will, I believe, come to the conclusion that
fundamental justice is to be found on the German side, and that Germany
has been forced to fight for her life.
It is an unquestionable fact that the unification of Germany and the
establishment of a strong German Empire, half a century ago, were
brought about against the bitter opposition of France, and that the
defeat incurred by France in 1870, in her attempt to prevent German
unification, is at the bottom of the constant irritation that has
agitated Europe during the last forty-three years.
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