Holland and Militarism
Louis Raemakersknows his own countrymen better than we can, and this satire at the expense of the peace at any price brigade is doubtless well deserved. The attitude might have been pardoned two years ago, but it is merely insane to-day. And none knows that fact better than Holland. Like America, she is taking care of herself; indeed, no nation has better reason to do so with a neighbour at her elbow unamenable to reason and uncontrolled by conscience.
Historians to come, however, will argue that our blindness was unpardonable, and our surprise and unpreparedness before the advent of war must cast a heavy slur on the future credit of our past diplomacy. For what could be clearer than Germany’s attitude or brighter than the beacons which had directed and were still directing her course? Bernhardi tells us all there is to know; Frederick the Great established the Prussian tradition on a basis of fraud and force; Bismarck sustained it and William II. has striven to reap the harvest of their sowing. It has needed the united might of Europe to prevent him from doing so. But to cry out against Teutonic principle and practice, as though it were a thing of yesterday sprung upon us in these wars, is absurd. Every politician worthy the name had the pages of history open for his perusal. Frederick pointed out that alliances in which each contracting party has different interests must never hold good under all conditions, or represent a permanent political system. He declared that no alliance or agreement in the world can be effective after the bond of common and reciprocal interest is broken.
Why then marvel at the Belgian “Scrap of paper,” or any number of them? It was a political commonplace with the German Chancellor and his Master that oaths should be broken at the moment it became inconvenient to keep them. Bernhardi himself says that political agreements must always be concluded with a tacit reservation and can only hold as long as the interests of both contracting parties are satisfied.
“La guerre,” said Mirabeau, “est l’industrie nationale de la Prusse.” She came into existence by that industry and no other; and until civilisation can crush that industry, peace terms with Prussia must not depend upon her promise to fulfil them but upon our power to make her do so. To cry “Down with militarism!” therefore is emphatically to play the German game, and she will always support that cry in other mouths, just as she applauds our “Free Trade” and other traditions that have played into her hands so long.
Holland at least is alive to danger, and since the artist drew this picture we have learned bycommuniquéfrom Dutch General Headquarters that the army is equipped in every possible respect, and able to face the prospect of war with confidence. The nation as a whole has supported Parliament with enthusiasm, and the preparations have been directed and inspired by the spectacle of modern warfare and its highest needs.
EDEN PHILLPOTTS
The Dutchman: “Down with militarism.”The German: “That’s right. So much the sooner you will be ours.”
The Dutchman: “Down with militarism.”The German: “That’s right. So much the sooner you will be ours.”
The Dutchman: “Down with militarism.”
The German: “That’s right. So much the sooner you will be ours.”