to German barriers, and accompanied by the blockade of a people with whom we have never been at war.  The adequate guaranties to be given and taken as respects armaments were taken from Germany and given to no one.  The ’unhampered and unembarrassed opportunity for the independent determination of her own political development’ promised to Russia, and defined as the ’acid test,’ has been worked out by Mr. Wilson and others to a point where so cautious a man as Mr. Asquith says he regards it with ’bewilderment and apprehension.’  The righting of the wrong done in 1871 emerges as a concealed annexation of the boundary of 1814.  The ’clearly recognizable lines of nationality’ which Italy was to obtain has been wheedled into annexations which have moved Viscount Bryce to denounce them.  ’The freest opportunity of autonomous development’ promised the peoples of Austria-Hungary failed to define the Austrians as peoples....”

Whatever the tests one applies to the work of the Conference—­ethical, social, or political—­they reveal it as a factor eminently calculated to sap high interests, to weaken the moral nerve of the present generation, to fan the flames of national and racial hatred, to dig an abyss between the classes and the masses, and to throw open the sluice-gates to the inrush of the waves of anarchist internationalities.  Truth, justice, equity, and liberty have been twisted and pressed into the service of economico-political boards.  In the United States the people who prided themselves on their aloofness are already fighting over European interests.  In Europe every nation’s hand is raised against its neighbors, and every people’s hand against its ruling class.  Every government is making its policy subservient to the needs of the future war which is universally looked upon as an unavoidable outcome of the Versailles peace.  Imperialism and militarism are striking roots in soil where they were hitherto unknown.  In a word, Prussianism, instead of being destroyed, has been openly adopted by its ostensible enemies, and the huge sacrifices offered up by the heroic armies of the foremost nations are being misused to give one half of the world just cause to rise up against the other half.

THE END

FOOTNOTES: 

[339] A contemporary of Goethe.  His works were republished by Herzog in the year 1907.

[340] The Daily Telegraph, January 28, 1919.

[341] The Daily Telegraph, January 31, 1919.

[342] The Daily Mail (Paris edition), February 13, 1919.

[343] State-Secretary Hay addressed a note to the Powers in September, 1899, setting forth America’s attitude toward China.  It is known as the doctrine of the “open door.”  In a subsequent note (July 3, 1900) he enlarged its scope and promulgated the integrity of China.  But Russia ignored it and flew her flag over the Chinese customs in Newchwang.  It was Japan who, on that occasion, asserted and enforced the doctrine without outside help.