|
Senator Pearce is determined to avoid any discussion
| of the merits of Labor's peace proposals. He hopes to
| dismiss the whole case for peace by negotiation with
| some such utterance as this:~~
|
It is
| one of the controversial weaknesses of George Pearce to
| be unable to perceive all the elements in the case. He
| is apparently unable to appreciate the difference
| between the Ukraine and a combination of great powers
| such as Britain, America, France, and Italy. Neither
| the
Wherein can it be alleged that a conference between
| two such powerful opponents is like unto the "peace
| secured by the Ukraine"? Only this week the cry came
| from the minority Socialists at Berlin:~~
|
In addition to this
| further evidence that negotiation is not impossible,
| there has been disclosed proof after proof that a
| powerful peace movement in Germany is fighting valiantly
| to express its abhorrence of the imperialist purposes
| which keep the war going. What has Senator Pearce to
| say by way of encouragement to those who in Germany are
| combating the Kaiser policy? He cannot help them by
| blundering epithets about idiots and ranters. And
| whether the Minister knows it or not, the essence of the
| war situation is to take from the junkers of Germany the
| hold they now exercise on the public spirit and working
| class patriotism of the German people as a whole. Until
| that is done
The Minister further cites Russia as a dread example
| of what negotiation involves. We wonder is he in
| earnest or merely playing with the tremendous questions
| he flippantly puts aside. There is no comparison
| between the case of Russia and that of the Allies in
| concert. Russia was betrayed by her Czar and his
| corrupt court. And when Russia overthrew the Czar and
| all he stood for she was basely deserted by the Allies,
| who feared the newly awakened democratic soul of the
| Russian nation more than they feared Prussianism. What
| was left for these people, betrayed and deserted? Does
| the Minister really mean to say that after nearly four
| years of fighting negotiations by unconquered and
| unconquerable Britain, France, Italy, and America would
| be treated with the same contempt as were the
| negotiations of betrayed and bleeding Russia? If that
| is so, if the Allies after nearly four years of
| fighting, have only succeeded in adding to Germany's
| arrogance, then the appalling fact is
| inescapable
The very exchanges which have taken place between the | spokesmen of the belligerents give powerful emphasis to | this contention. The most recent declaration of Von | Hertling will be found to contain:~~
| (1) The distinct expression of a wish that, in
| order to remove misunderstandings, and in the hope of
| reaching
|
responsible representatives of the
| belligerent Powers should come together
|
for discussion.
(2) An admission that
|
, on the basis of the four principles
| laid down in President Wilson's message of February 11,
| if recognised definitely by all States and nations.
(3) An assurance that the Chancellor would
|
an impartial Court of
| International Arbitration, and
|
(4) An intimation that Germany does not think of | retaining Belgium or making the Belgian State a | component part of the German Empire.
| By what process of reasoning is it held that the
| Allies cannot consent to negotiations on this basis?
| Cannot Senator Pearce and those who think with him in
| the British War Cabinet perceive that in dismissing
| this, or any, opportunity for discussion they are
| playing right into the hands of the Prussian
| militarists? Can he not realise that so long as the
| German people see no chance of negotiation because the
| Allies will not negotiate, they have no alternative but
| to swallow the Kaiser's teachings? It was to prevent
| this that towards the end of last year Lord Lansdowne
| declared it
|
|
Lansdowne went on to say that he failed to see why
| there should not now be that
|
proposed by Hertling, in view of the
| fact that
|
We ask Senator Pearce to give us
| something more than epithets as an explanation why any
| open discussion at all should be tabooed. If the
| Minister will re-read President Wilson's speech of
| February 11 this year he will find four great principles
| laid down which the President considered a reasonable
| foundation for an open discussion. Prior to this he had
| (Jan 8) outlined fourteen points which the Austrian
| Chancellor, Count Czernin (Jan 25) said were "identical"
| with his general view of the situation. Then a month
| later Von Hertling went so far as to say with regard to
| the four vital principles of Wilson's statement:~~
|
Is it any wonder that in the face of this conclusive | evidence of the practicability of negotiations on an | equal basis, that Labor definitely sets its seal on the | imperative obligations the Governments are under to | negotiate. What they will do in one, two, five, or more | years time, after more and more lives have been | swallowed up by the moloch of war, they can do now. And | if the Governments cannot do it now they should stand | aside and invite the International of Labor to do it for | them.
|