CAN WAR BE AVERTED ?
[To Tax EDITOR or THE firsCrsros."] SIB.,—For the last three years I have spent several months of each in daily interviews with Frenchmen and Germans, and I have therefore had many opportunities of learning the state of popular feeling in those countries as to their mutual relations. I may explain that the object in which I have been engaged has been that of founding, on behalf of the International Arbitra- tion and Peace Association, societies which should undertake the task of promoting a friendly public opinion between the citizens of different countries, and a movement for the general adoption of arbitration in disputes. The persons with whom I have been in communisation were manufacturers, traders, and bankers, men in the liberal professions, a few officials, and representatives of the working class. To begin with the latter,—alike in France and Germany the masses of the population are, to a man, opposed to war, and they would raise a very loud and general protest if they had the means of doing so. Moreover, the solidarity of feeling between the workmen of the two countries grows daily ; and in both, military preparations are angrily regarded as a device for calling away attention from " the social question." But these classes, while forming the overwhelming majority, have no adequate representation ; and even the well-organised Socialists of Germany can only muster twenty-four Members in the Reichstag ; while in the French Chamber, their power is far lees. As to the middle and governing classes in France, the universal feeling is that her national honour and rightful position in Europe compel her to regard the restoration of Alsace-Lorraine as indispensable. " Patriotism " takes the place of religion, as any one may see by looking at their school-books ; and it is unpatriotic to acquiesce in the subjection of territory to foreign rule. How, then, shall this permanent cause of danger to Europe be settled P Imperialists, Monarchists, and Opportunists alike believe that war sooner or later is the only solution ; while, on the other hand, Democrats and advanced Radicals hope for some other,—that Europe in her own interest will ultimately intervene, or that new rulers at Berlin will inaugurate a new era, and, animated by an enlightened desire for the welfare of Germany, make an act of restitution. Others, and the more numerous, declare on every occasion that the only true answer to the riddle is that Alsace- Lorraine shall become an independent and self-governing com- munity like Switzerland, under the guarantee of all the Powers. According to this proposal, the territory in question could not be a vantage-ground or thoroughfare for hostile armies, while France and Germany would at once disarm and become united in a friendship based on mutual interests.
As to Germany, opinion there is much more under the sway of the military and administrative chiefs, who declare that the Fatherland can never be secure without the strategic position gained by the Treaty of Frankfort. But the new Freisinnige Parfet of the North, and the Democrats of the Southern States, become more and more restive under increasing burdens, and deny the danger of attack from France. When I asked a Democrat of Wfirtemburg how he would settle the Alsace- Lorraine difficulty, he said,—" Let that question rest, and when
Germany is Republican, it will be settled easily." If the French democracy would compel their Government to let the question rest, the German Radicals would rapidly grow in influence ; for it is the fear of France which gives to the Government party its chief force. It seems to me impossible to doubt that the beat guarantee for peace in Europe is the growth of the democracy. With their advent to power, home politics will take the place of foreign politics, and the Radical creed will be a bond of-union between men of different nationalities. Radicals in Berlin showed no unfriendly feeling towards France, and said to me that there was much greater Chauvinism among their countrymen than on the other aide of the Rhine. But while waiting for the advent of the democracy, can nothing be done to save Europe from a disaster which a great military writer, Baron von der Goltz, declares will be of un- speakable magnitude P Upon England, it seems to me, rests a very special duty, because she has a unique position, as being outside the Continental whirlpool, except in so far as she has incurred the great responsibility of the Egyptian occupation. Yet still, by her history, her character, and her position, she should be the peacemaker. Let the Queen crown her reign by an effort which, if successful, would win for Eugland the grati- tude of the world. Let her Majesty appeal to the Sovereigns and Princes of Europe to meet at a Peace Congress in a spirit of mutual concession and devotion to the general good, making one supreme effort to arrive at a compromise which shall save the cause of progress, of liberty, and of humanity.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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