It has been known ever since the first publication of
the official papers that Russia mobilized before war was certain. Those who lay, as we do, by far the greatest proportion of the blame upon Germany recognize that Russia could not possibly have sat still under such a threat to herself and her interests as was offered to her in July, 1914. Germany, of course, prefers to say that Russia caused the War by her mobilization. But we who do not at all accept the German arguments or excuses look back further and ask, What was the cause of the Russian mobilization ? In these circumstances the proof—if there is proof—that M. Poincare encouraged Russia to make preparations against her great enemy, even in the days long before the War, is not to throw any new light on the origin of the War. Moreover, it must. be remembered that the (Euz,Te is-a violent opponent of M. Poincare. It may be, as the Times suggests, that the ffurre, and other papers which see eye to eye with it, want to stop at. the outset the development of. the new party which is being raised by M. Poincare and M. Millerand. M. Poincare has met the attack as might have been expected of him ; he has absolutely denied the truth of what has been published and suggests that the extracts were forged.
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