Page images
PDF
EPUB

FUNCTIONS ENLARGED

383

minister of foreign affairs, but was unable to find in them any real approximation to the moderate conditions laid down by all the allied gov

ernments.

This conviction was only deepened by the impression made by the contrast between the professed idealistic aims with which the Central Powers entered upon the present negotiations at Brest-Litovsk and their now openly disclosed plans of conquest and spoliation.

Under the circumstances the Supreme War Council decided that the only immediate task1 before them lay in the prosecution of the war with the utmost vigor and the closest and most effective co-operation of the military effort of the Allies.

This effort must be prosecuted until such time as the pressure of that effort shall have brought about in the enemy Governments and peoples a change of temper which would justify the hope of the conclusion of peace on terms which would not involve abandonment, in the face of an aggressive and unrepentant militarism, of all the principles of freedom, justice and respect for the law of nations which the Allies are resolved to vindicate.

The decisions taken by the Supreme War Council in pursuance of this conclusion embrace not only a general military policy to be carried out by the Allies in all the principal theaters of the war, but, more particularly, a closer and more effective co-ordination under the council of all the efforts of the powers engaged in the struggle against the Central empires.

The functions of the council itself were enlarged, and the principles of unity of policy and action initiated at Rapallo in November last received still further concrete and practical development. On all these questions a complete agreement was arrived at after the fullest discussion, with regard to both the policy to be pursued and to the measures for its execution.

Complete agreement is thus established both among the Governments and the military chiefs in all necessary directions in order that resolutions on which all agree may receive their full effect.2

In the House of Commons debate on the King's address February 13, 1918, Mr. Holt moved as an amendment to the address:

"But regrets that, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme War Council at Versailles, the prosecution of military effort is to be the only immediate task of your Majesty's Government."

The House divided, and there voted for the amendment, 28; against, 159; majority against, 131.

This and the next two succeeding paragraphs are rendered as follows in the version given out by the British Government:

Hence there exists for all a calm feeling of strength, unfailing by reason of firm confidence in unanimous agreement, not only on arrangements and methods but principally on aims.

A coalition in broad daylight of hearts and wills which pursues no designs other than the defense of civilized peoples against the most brutal attempt at world domination opposes to the violence of the enemy the quiet confidence of the greatest energies unceasingly renewed.

The splendid soldiers of our free democracies have won their place in history by their immeasurable valor, and their magnificent heroism and the no less noble endurance with which our civilian populations are bearing their daily burden of trial and suffering testify to the strength of those principles of freedom which will crown the military success of the Allies with the glory of a great moral triumph.

STATEMENT ON THE BREST-LITOVSK PEACE, MARCH 18, 1918 The prime ministers and foreign ministers of the Entente, assembled in London, feel it to be their bounden duty to take note of the political crimes, which under the name of a German peace, have been committed against the Russian people. Russia was unarmed. Forgetting that for four years Germany had been fighting against the independence of nations and the rights of mankind, the Russian Government, in a mood of singular credulity, expected to obtain by persuasion that "democratic peace" which it had failed to obtain by war.

The results were that the intermediate armistice had not expired before the German command, though pledged not to alter the disposition of its troops, transferred them en masse to the western front and so weak did Russia find herself that she dared to raise no protest against this flagrant violation of Germany's plighted word. What followed was of like character, when "the German peace" was translated into action. It was found to involve the invasion of Russian territory, the destruction or capture of all Russia's means of defense, and the organization of Russian lands for Germany's profit-a proceeding which did not differ from "annexation" because the word itself was carefully avoided.

"The Allies are united in heart and will, not by any hidden designs, but by their open resolve to defend civilization against an unscrupulous and brutal attempt at domination. This unanimity is confirmed by a unanimity no less complete both as regards the military policy to be pursued and as regards measures needed for its execution which will enable them to meet the violence of the enemy's onset with firm and quiet confidence, with the utmost energy and with the knowledge that neither their strength nor their steadfastness can be shaken.” The rendering given in the text is a literal translation from the French version as published in Paris.

BRANDS RUSSO-GERMAN TREATIES

385

Meanwhile those very Russians who had made military operations impossible found diplomacy impotent. Their representatives were compelled to proclaim that, while they refused to read the treaty presented to them, they had no choice but to sign it, so they signed it, not knowing whether in its true significance it meant peace or war nor measuring the degree to which Russian national life was reduced by it to a shadow.

For us of the Entente Governments the judgment which the free peoples of the world will pass on these transactions would never be in doubt. Why waste time over German pledges when we see that at no period in her history of conquest-not when she overran Silesia nor when she partitioned Poland-has she exhibited herself so cynically as a destroyer of national independence, the implacable enemy of the rights of man and the dignity of civilized nations?

Poland, whose heroic spirit has survived the most cruel of national tragedies, is threatened with a fourth partition and to aggravate her wrongs, devices by which the last trace of her independence is to be crushed are based on fraudulent promises of freedom.

What is true of Russia and Poland is no less true of Rumania, overwhelmed like them in a flood of merciless passion for domination.

Peace is loudly advertised, but under the thin disguise of verbal professions lurk the brutal realities of war and the untempered rule of a lawless force. Peace treaties such as these we do not and cannot acknowledge. Our own ends are very different. We are fighting, and mean to continue fighting, in order to finish once for all with this policy of plunder and to establish in its place the peaceful reign of organized justice.

As incidents of this long war unroll themselves before our eyes, more and more clearly do we perceive that the battles for freedom are everywhere interdependent; that no separate enumeration of them is needed and that in every case the single, but all-sufficient, appeal is to justice and right.

Are justice and right going to win? In so far as the issue depends on battles yet to come, the nations whose fate is in the balance may surely put their trust in the armies, which, even under conditions much more difficult than the present, have shown themselves more than equal to the great cause intrusted to their valor.

SIXTH SESSION, JUNE 4, 1918

The Supreme War Council has held its sixth session under circumstances of great gravity for the alliance of free peoples. The German Government, relieved of all pressure on its eastern front by the collapse

of the Russian armies and people, has concentrated all its efforts in the west; it is now seeking to gain a decision in Europe by a series of desperate and costly assaults upon the allied armies before the United States can bring its full strength effectively to bear. The advantage it possesses in its strategic position and superior railway facilities has enabled the enemy command to gain some initial successes; it will undoubtedly renew the attacks, and the allied nations may be still exposed to critical days. After a review of the whole position, the Supreme War Council is convinced that the Allies, bearing the trials of the forthcoming campaign with the same fortitude which they have ever exhibited in the defense of right, will baffle the enemy's purpose, and in due course will bring him to defeat. Everything possible is being done to sustain and support the armies in the field. Arrangements for unity of command have greatly improved the position of the allied armies, and are working smoothly and with success.

The Supreme War Council has complete confidence in General Foch; it regards with pride and admiration the valor of the allied troops. Thanks to the prompt and cordial co-operation of the President of the United States, arrangements which were set on foot more than two months ago for the transportation and brigading of American troops will make it impossible for the enemy to gain a victory by wearing out the allied reserve before he has exhausted his own.

The Supreme War Council is confident of the ultimate result. The allied peoples are resolute not to sacrifice a single one of the free nations of the world to the despotism of Berlin. Their armies are displaying the same steadfast courage which has enabled them on many previous occasions to defeat the German onset. They have only to endure with faith and patience to the end to make the victory of freedom secure. free peoples and their magnificent soldiers will save civilization.

STATEMENT RESPECTING THE POLISH, CZECHO-SLOVAK AND
YUGO-SLAVIC PEOPLES

The

At a meeting held at Versailles on June 3 the prime ministers of the three allied countries, Great Britain, France and Italy, agreed to the following declarations:

(1) The creation of a united and independent Polish state with free access to the sea constitutes one of the conditions of a solid and just peace and of the rule of right in Europe.1

'An Associated Press dispatch of August 19, 1918, stated:

"Brazil has been invited by the Allies to outline her position on the restoration

BRITISH DOMINIONS THANKED

387

(2) The allied Governments have noted with pleasure the declaration made by the secretary of state of the United States Government and desire to associate themselves in an expression of earnest sympathy for the nationalistic aspirations toward freedom of the Czecho-Slovak and Yugo-Slav peoples.

SEVENTH SESSION, JULY 2-5, 1918

The Supreme War Council has held its seventh session. It offered its earnest congratulations to the Italian army and people on their memorable defeat of the Austro-Hungarian army. In their judgment, this victory, gained at a critical period of the war, has been an invaluable contribution toward the eventual success of the allied cause.

A feature of the session was the presence during the third meeting of Sir Robert Borden, prime minister of Canada; Mr. W. M. Hughes, prime minister of Australia; Mr. W. F. Massey, prime minister of New Zealand; Mr. W. F. Lloyd, prime minister of Newfoundland, and several other ministers of the overseas Dominions of the British Empire, who were presented by Mr. Lloyd George.

On behalf of the Supreme War Council, M. Clemenceau and Signor Orlando tendered to these representatives the thanks of the allied nations for the very great services rendered on the battlefield during the war by the troops of the great British colonies.

The Supreme War Council considered the present situation of the war in all its aspects in conjunction with General Foch and its other military advisers, and came to important decisions in regard thereto.

Among those present during the session were M. Clemenceau, Mr. Lloyd George, Signor Orlando, M. Pichon, Mr. Balfour, Lord Milner, Baron Sonnino, General Foch, Sir Henry Wilson, Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, General Pershing, and the permanent military representives at Versailles.

of independence to Poland as one of the conditions of peace. Nilo Pecanha, minister of foreign affairs, has stated that he would not consider any compromise on the part of the Allies on the question of Poland's freedom. Brazil has no choice of roads which may be followed in this matter, he says, having already chosen the right path."

« PreviousContinue »