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From "The German Plans for the Next War".
J. B. W. Gardiner[1]. 1918 .
- German Aims in Europe and Asia
The development of the present German Empire into the great but unscrupulous power which planned and initiated the Great War began with the Austro-Prussian war of 1866. This was the beginning of the Prussian lust for power and conquest, the beginning of the policy of aggression which found its crystallization in 1914.
The Hetman of Ukraine, Pavlo Petrovych Skoropadskyi, 1918. As the leader of regime commonly called "The Hetmanate" after his title, he drew support from wealthy landowners and hardline Tsarists, aside, of course, from the immense support of German Empire. The Ukrainian nationalists were particularly not pleased with neither German control of state's economy and foreign policy, as well as with Hetman's clear design to make Kiev a center of future, larger empire, since Russian Republic didn't last and this Soviet State must clearly follow - with Ukraine itself being only the start. Thus, the Hetmanate was from the start a safe haven for Right-wing opposition against Bolsheviks and main base of operation for various White Russian forces - even those clearly disagreeing with Skoropadskyi's collaboration with Germans.
The taste of power and of the fruits of victory which Germany obtained in 1871 soon developed into gluttonous desire. Under the guidance of Bismarck, the first to dream of Pan-Germanv, the campaign for universal empire began.
In almost every leading university, in almost every school and from almost every pulpit these ideas were taught and disseminated, until all of Germany was rotten with their insidious poison. The Pan-German Party therefore lived and thrived and with widely extended membership, spread over the entire empire, taking supremacy in all matters of state, in spite of the growth of socialism.
Members of infamous 'Black and Tans' militia units, active throughout unoccupied parts of Britain after the war: officially the 'Special Reserves' of local law enforcement agencies, they soon became a main force against strikes and demonstrations organized by the members of the Left. The royalists, nationalists or conservative volunteers from various anglophile states arrived to fight in these units against perceived threat of revolutionaries. Magnified by German demands after Treaty of Westminster, the violence did further spread into streets of smaller towns and into villages. The times later became known as 'The Troubles'.
It is not the intention here to enter into a discussion of the origin of the Great War. It is, indeed, unnecessary, since it has been proven beyond all doubt that the war owes its beginning to Germany, to German ambition, to German lust for power and gain.
At the outset we may lay down the undebatable theory of warring against coalitions, that the only way to win is, as Napoleon did on several occasions, break the coalition and defeat its component parts separately.
The Russian bureaucracy, in the first place, was made up of men the great majority of whom were from the Baltic provinces and who were pro-Teuton in their sympathies rather than pro-Slav. The Russian people were not united, the spirit of patriotism was weak, there was an absence of any national ideal by which the people were united into that solidarity so essential to the prosecution of a war.
Be it movies, buildings or paintings, Germans overwhelmingly celebrated the end of hated war the British pride forced upon them, and rejoiced after every speech of Chancellor, Kaiser, Crown Prince or Field Marshal Hindenburg: always a little different in it's content, but reassuring about safety, security and golden times of the Kaiserreich - and always more or less tactfully mentioning, in one way or another, that never again any foreign power or domestic enemy will be allowed to prevent German greatness to rise - or endanger the peace guarded by the House of Hohenzollern.
Great Britain, Germany hoped might stay out of this war and would be attended to later. The logical move then was to strike against the weaker member of the enemy, defeat it, force a separate peace, and then turn on the other.
Either wing, if struck suddenly with the full force of Germany, unhampered and undiverted by any danger from the other, would, before defensive mobilization could be affected, be crushed and crumbled like a house of cards.
The Chancellor Helfferich prioritized economic questions of concluding the victorious war in 1918 - with stability of the Reichsmark bolstered by hundreds of tons of gold and huge amounts of foreign currencies taken as war reparations. He opposed at first any further support of anti-Bolshevik forces or resumption of hostilities with Russia, as he preferred focus on dismantling of British Empire and takeover of it's assets - not mentioning the continuing support of pro-German government of Hetmanate or Finnish forces. Only later, with growing hostility of United States and continuation of Bolshevik state, he pursued more assertive foreign policy well into 1920s.
Russia could, moreover, be cut off from the seas except at Vladivostok, from which the traffic is limited by a single and very long railroad haul. Thus Russia was chiefly dependent for supplies and munitions on her domestic manufactures, except during the summer weather, when the White Sea ports would be open.
In addition to this, Austria, Germany's ally, was cut off completely from participating in an attack on France, her territory stretching squarely across Russia's southern flank in Poland. From this accident of geography, Germany, when Austria engaged Russia's attention on the Poland frontier, could outflank the Russian army at all points along the borderlands.
Master then of three-quarters of all of the iron of Europe, France reduced to a third rate power, Germany could then begin a naval development which would eventually wrest from England the title of Mistress of the Seas and place Germany in control of the world on land and sea.
"World Power or Downfall," said Bernhardi in 1912. But how could world power be reached without destroying France, and rendering England impotent? No, the Pan-German dream was not Hamburg to Bagdad, but Calais to Baghdad.
Once France was conquered, Germany considered that it would be very simple to deal with the eastern phase of Pan-Germania. Russia would not last a year. Petrograd was swamped with sedition; every Russian council was filled with German spies; the Russian Premier himself was a German agent; the Russian queen, sister of the Kaiser[2], was loyal to her brother's interests.
In months Russia would have to become as truly a German vassal as she is now, Serbia would have been eliminated, and the eastern boundary of Germany would have become contiguous with the western boundary of Persia. German domination of both the European and Asiatic continents can be now considered complete.
Showing the desires of Pan-Germanists westward, another Pan-German writer, Joseph Ludwig Reimer, has this to say with reference to all of Germany's smaller neighbors: "We desire, and must desire ... a world-empire of Teutonic stock, under the hegemony of the German people."
German federal election, 1918
Just like the map of Europe, the politics of German Empire after the 1918 Elections were transformed beyond recognition: war coalition of the 'Fatherland Party' ended with split of nationalists in DNVP (called 'Kaiser Party' by the opposition) with centre conservative 'technocrats' forming DVP - a small party pursuing the goal of more constitutional monarchy. The product of another party split, USPD (Independent Social Democratic Party), ended up as the second strongest party in Germany - but even combined with SPD and DDP liberals they remained completely powerless against usually formed DNVP-Zentrum coalition, which will remain in power during the 1920s and 1930s.
Serbia has been demolished and the Belgrade-Nish link in the Oriental Railroad is secured; Bulgaria and Turkey are totally subdued through economic dependence and are in all things subservient to their Teutonic masters; Austria remains, as she has been since the beginning, a German vassal.
- Germany's plans for the future revealed
If we had the slightest reason to believe in Germany's good faith; if we did not know that she is unscrupulous, deceitful, without any conceptions of national honor as that term is understood by the civilized people of the world; if Germany's history did not prove that she cannot have power without abusing it, we might interpret her recently made moves as a reasonable step for the preservation of the nation.
The Kaiser's visit in shipyards, Kiel, 1918. Improved conditions of the workers (from many aspects) and unending appearance of new job offers in shipyards, factories, mines or coming hunger for many new colonists in German Africa could only ensure the unending support for the now implemented 'Weltpolitik'. The place in the sun was achieved in the ways the ever ordinary German citizens could saw each day.
In December 1917 the Association of German Manufacturers of Iron and Steel and the Association of German Metallurgists, with headquarters at Berlin and Dusseldorff, drew up a memorial which was addressed to the German Government and to the German High Military Command, demanding that Germany annex the French iron areas centering in Longwy and Briey because of their "extreme importance for German national economy and for the conduct of future wars."
Taking up the use of steel in the next war, and following in a general way the idea, the memorial states: "For the future war it is necessary that we dispose of considerable resources in German ore, for the richer an industrial nation is in iron ore the greater it is feared by its enemies."
All the German mind conceives today is a peace which will enable the state to wage most effectively the next war in which it is engaged. Nothing is further from German purpose or German desire than to make a peace which will stabilize Europe, and lessen to a minimum the chances of future conflict.
As the German Empire's rise on many levels continued, the Austria-Hungary seemed to be put into some spiral of doom: Emperor Charles I., despite his lack of charisma, did actually his best to fix the issues neglected for decades, starting with state of the Army - and dismissed K.u.K. Feldmarschall Conrad von Hotzendorf from position of Chief of Staff - after he was defeated in every campaign of war, almost allowed Russians to reach Prague and Budapest -after which only crushing German victories saved them. Population was saved from worst starvation again only by the direct actions of Kaiserreich. Although the general state of Dual Monarchy before the war was later greatly exaggerated, even the victorious war showed the cracks appearing all the time since 1848.
The Kaiser's visit in shipyards, Kiel, 1918. Improved conditions of the workers (from many aspects) and unending appearance of new job offers in shipyards, factories, mines or coming hunger for many new colonists in German Africa could only ensure the unending support for the now implemented 'Weltpolitik'. The place in the sun was achieved in the ways the ever ordinary German citizens could saw each day.
In December 1917 the Association of German Manufacturers of Iron and Steel and the Association of German Metallurgists, with headquarters at Berlin and Dusseldorff, drew up a memorial which was addressed to the German Government and to the German High Military Command, demanding that Germany annex the French iron areas centering in Longwy and Briey because of their "extreme importance for German national economy and for the conduct of future wars."
Taking up the use of steel in the next war, and following in a general way the idea, the memorial states: "For the future war it is necessary that we dispose of considerable resources in German ore, for the richer an industrial nation is in iron ore the greater it is feared by its enemies."
All the German mind conceives today is a peace which will enable the state to wage most effectively the next war in which it is engaged. Nothing is further from German purpose or German desire than to make a peace which will stabilize Europe, and lessen to a minimum the chances of future conflict.
As the German Empire's rise on many levels continued, the Austria-Hungary seemed to be put into some spiral of doom: Emperor Charles I., despite his lack of charisma, did actually his best to fix the issues neglected for decades, starting with state of the Army - and dismissed K.u.K. Feldmarschall Conrad von Hotzendorf from position of Chief of Staff - after he was defeated in every campaign of war, almost allowed Russians to reach Prague and Budapest -after which only crushing German victories saved them. Population was saved from worst starvation again only by the direct actions of Kaiserreich. Although the general state of Dual Monarchy before the war was later greatly exaggerated, even the victorious war showed the cracks appearing all the time since 1848.
- World empire or downfall
To say that Germany is, in its dealings with Russia, indulging in an orgy of Pan-Germanism; that the extent of the Russian collapse intoxicated the German leaders and sent them reeling about Berlin, thoroughly drunk with dreams of power and conquest, is to state the truth in general terms.
When Finland, Ukraine and the Caucasus declared their independence and attempted to set up governments of their own, Germany not only encouraged but through skillful propaganda brought these results about. Germany's penchant for swallowing small states is well known even though her ability to digest them is narrow and limited — Russia has always been Germany's fear. In the case of Finland, the eventual result at which Germany aims is the control of Scandinavia and the conversion of the Baltic Sea into a German lake. If the German plans succeeds, Norway and Sweden will find it impossible to maintain more than a nominal independence.
The return of prisoners of war, London, 1918. Though the various armistices and provisional treaties regarding immediate disarmament were signed with each country already, the general peace treaty was still needed - and by the decision of the Kaiser Wilhelm II., it must be signed in the Westminster. German military left the city, but was still present in Wales, Scotland and the Channel Ports. The British Army was demobilized and reduced to merely a militia and what was left of Royal Navy was interned in Scapa Flow. Protests and demonstrations followed, only provoking short re-occupation of London for the duration of negotiations. Or more like a 'Diktat' ordered by the victors of the war.
It remains now only for Germany to bring the present struggle to a close so that she can begin to consolidate these accessions to her dominion, to stabilize and perfect their governments in accordance with her interests, and her preparations for the next war will be practically complete.
When Finland, Ukraine and the Caucasus declared their independence and attempted to set up governments of their own, Germany not only encouraged but through skillful propaganda brought these results about. Germany's penchant for swallowing small states is well known even though her ability to digest them is narrow and limited — Russia has always been Germany's fear. In the case of Finland, the eventual result at which Germany aims is the control of Scandinavia and the conversion of the Baltic Sea into a German lake. If the German plans succeeds, Norway and Sweden will find it impossible to maintain more than a nominal independence.
The return of prisoners of war, London, 1918. Though the various armistices and provisional treaties regarding immediate disarmament were signed with each country already, the general peace treaty was still needed - and by the decision of the Kaiser Wilhelm II., it must be signed in the Westminster. German military left the city, but was still present in Wales, Scotland and the Channel Ports. The British Army was demobilized and reduced to merely a militia and what was left of Royal Navy was interned in Scapa Flow. Protests and demonstrations followed, only provoking short re-occupation of London for the duration of negotiations. Or more like a 'Diktat' ordered by the victors of the war.
It remains now only for Germany to bring the present struggle to a close so that she can begin to consolidate these accessions to her dominion, to stabilize and perfect their governments in accordance with her interests, and her preparations for the next war will be practically complete.
[1] The author, a journalist and so called "military critic" of NY Times, was accidentally shot by the soldiers during Great Chicago Strike in 1925, which was suppressed by the U.S. Army on the direct orders of the President Wood.
[2] Such mistakes were absolutely common in American newspapers in 1918, in which was usual to claim that German soldiers process civilians into bread or that Prussian officers train war gorillas to invade United States. This level of propaganda absurdity continued well into 1919.
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And now the smoke clears. Poor AH is cracking apart though.
Drastic actions may be needed...
Drastic actions may be needed...
So the Red Scare has never ended - any chance of the US going communist?Vlad_Dracul1989 said:
Nasty deal with Austria-Hungary. Looks like Blessed Charles has quite a monstrous task ahead of him.
In short: Bulgarians happy, rest not.
German unification is yet to be finished, clearly.
It shouldn't go so far, but certainly more left with unhealthy adoration of Bolsheviks.
All genuine, real words of real Great War NY Times journalist. 'Murica smart.
House of Hohenzollern have only so much patience with incompetent inbreds.
Wait, he actually said that? I thought that was you applying dramatic irony. Well, I guess American complete misunderstanding of foreign countries isn't a recent thing...
?Well of course there was the thing where according to French newspapers Crown Prince Wilhelm died in battle, then apparently was revived only to be taken prisoner, but apparently escaped because he committed suicide out of guilt, only to be revived and taken prisoner again. Quite the durable man, that Wilhelm.Fake news were a thing in Great War.
Fake news were a thing in Great War.
Back then, of course, the fashionable term was "yellow journalism"
Note: next part will be the last one with narrative literature and tons of pictures - Interwar (not really peaceful) period will be described much like being written in history book, in shorter articles. Development in each country will be described, same as each crisis, coup, election or revolution.
Wait, scroll back.
Did you really write an event for Austria-Hungary, and misspell it's name as "Austria-Hungry" not once, but twice? It this WAD?
Did you really write an event for Austria-Hungary, and misspell it's name as "Austria-Hungry" not once, but twice? It this WAD?
There were worse cases of gramatic abuse, to be honest - and I am somewhat lazy to fix all of them, as they are not mine, but written by someone else
Maybe I will correct them all later for TGC team, but right now, not such amount of time
From "Treaty of Westminster, American opinion." 1920. U. S. Senate.
- Speech of Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts, August 12th, 1919
Based upon the treaties of alliance against France, those of Chaumont and of Vienna, was the final Treaty of Paris, 1815. In the preamble the signatories, who were Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, stated that it is the purpose of the ensuing treaty and their desire "to employ all their means to prevent the general tranquillity — the object of the wishes of man - kind and the constant end of their efforts — from being again disturbed."
In years following the 1918 Iron Election (called after Iron Crosses wore by millions of freshly demobilized soldiers) to the Reichstag, both nationalists and socialists radicalized only further, leaving the ranks of hardline monarchists or Social Democrats. After the ban of USPD, due to revealed connections to the 'Spartakusbund', whose leaders were shot for treason, KPD became the main left-wing party in Germany. By the same time, in 1919 very new and obscure party with paramilitary wing, became more an embarassment than help for leading German party, DNVP.
As early as 1818 it had become apparent that upon this innocent statement might be built an alliance which was to be used to suppress the rights of nationalities and every attempt of any oppressed people to secure their freedom.
The attitude of England led to a compromise in 1818 in which it was declared that it was the intention of the five powers, France being invited to adhere, "to maintain the intimate union, strengthened by the ties of Christian brotherhood, contracted by the sovereigns; to pronounce the object of this union to be the preservation of peace on the basis of respect for treaties." Admirable and gentle words these, setting forth purposes which all men must approve.
Belgian King Albert I.'s position after the war was precarious, same could be said about his country: his refusal of German offer of an alliance meant, that Belgium remained on worst possible terms with it's powerful neighbours. Blockade from both sides of conflict meant deep economic downfall worsen by the Flemish revolts and demonstrations, not helped by leftist pro-French agitations of Walloon part of the country - all of this, while watching France crushed two times and Royal Navy's mighty battleships sunk in the Channel by Krupp-made guns. Flooded by political refugees from France under German occupation and then under control by the conservative military dictatorship ensured, that very survival of the country was in doubt - without single shot fired in the war.
The Tsar Alexander abandoned his Liberal theories and threw himself into the arms of Metternich, as mean a tyrant as history can show, whose sinister designs probably caused, as much misery and oppression in the years which followed as have ever been evolved by one man of second rate abilities.
If, owing to such alterations, immediate danger threatens other States, the powers bind themselves, by peaceful means, or, if need be, by arms, to bring back the guilty State into the bosom of the great alliance." To this point had the innocent and laudable declarations of the treaty of Paris already developed.
The Holy Alliance, thus developed by the three continental powers and accepted by France under the Bourbons, proceeded to restore the Inquisition in Spain, to re-establish the Neapolitan Bourbons, who for 40 years were to subject the people of southern Italy to one of the most detestable tyrannies ever known, and proposed further to interfere against the colonies in South America which had revolted from Spain and to have their case submitted to a congress of the powers.
I have taken the trouble to trace in the merest outline the development of the Holy Alliance, so hostile and dangerous to human freedom, because I think it carries with it a lesson for us at the present moment, showing as it does what may come from general propositions and declarations of purposes in which all the world agrees.
Poster of the Industrial Workers of the World, founded in 1905. Regarded too radical even by other unions, in 1920s, it's growth continued in relatively slow but steady pace, with membership numbers exploding only in turbulent 1930s, especially after election of Socialist candidate to the office of the President of United States.
Turn to the preamble of the Covenant of the International Court of Arbitration now before us, which states the object of the Arbitration Court. It is formed "in order to promote international respect to the law and to achieve international harmony and security by the acceptance of obligations not to ignore injustice, by the prescription of determined, just, and honorable relations between nations, by the firm establishment of the understandings of international laws as the actual rule of conduct among governments and by the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organized peoples with one another."
No one would contest the loftiness or the benevolence of these purposes. Brave words, indeed! They do not differ essentially from the preamble of the Treaty of Paris,from which sprang the Holy Alliance. But the covenant of this 'Court' contains a provision which I do not find in the treaty of Paris, and which is as follows:
"The Court may deal at its meetings with any matter affecting the peace of the world."
In spite of loud calls for vigilance and resistance against 'medieval despotism' of Germany, the majority of American people buried world's problems deeply beneath their own dreams of ever growing prosperity. Plans to build a greatest Navy in the world able to fight the Kaiserliche Marine were scrapped and newly elected President Wood only managed to save budget for the Army, arguing, that very the least, uncertain political situation in Canada after British defeat, combined with victory of Zapatistas in Mexico called for a standing army more resembling the ones of Europe. Fear of socialist or anarchist uprisings was non-existent, at the time, compared to defeated Britain, but was clearly a part of the argument too.
There is no such sweeping or far-reaching provision as that in the Treaty of Paris, and yet able men developed from that treaty the Holy Alliance, which England, and later France, were forced to abandon and which, for thirty-five years, was an unmitigated curse to the world.
England broke from the Holy Alliance and the breach began three years after it was formed, because English statesmen saw that it was intended to turn the alliance — and this 'arbitration court' is an alliance — into a means of repressing internal revolutions or insurrections.
The United States had plenty of their own problems to solve: when it wasn't military weakness, it was Ponzi's scheme (which gave the world entirely new term for a massive fraud), debates over Prohibition - or disturbingly racist and violent KKK, which was now focused against Jews and Roman Catholics too. Rise of antisemite rhetorics in Britain and Canada - and reappearance of Papal States - futher convinced many Americans who surely must have caused the war. Inability of the Federal government to suppress the dangerous organisation were amongst the causes of the major parties' eventual decline.
I object in the strongest possible way to having the United States agree, directly or indirectly, to be controlled by a 'court' which may at any time, and perfectly lawfully and in accordance with the terms of the covenant, be drawn in to deal with internal conflicts in other countries, no matter what those conflicts may be.
In years following the 1918 Iron Election (called after Iron Crosses wore by millions of freshly demobilized soldiers) to the Reichstag, both nationalists and socialists radicalized only further, leaving the ranks of hardline monarchists or Social Democrats. After the ban of USPD, due to revealed connections to the 'Spartakusbund', whose leaders were shot for treason, KPD became the main left-wing party in Germany. By the same time, in 1919 very new and obscure party with paramilitary wing, became more an embarassment than help for leading German party, DNVP.
As early as 1818 it had become apparent that upon this innocent statement might be built an alliance which was to be used to suppress the rights of nationalities and every attempt of any oppressed people to secure their freedom.
The attitude of England led to a compromise in 1818 in which it was declared that it was the intention of the five powers, France being invited to adhere, "to maintain the intimate union, strengthened by the ties of Christian brotherhood, contracted by the sovereigns; to pronounce the object of this union to be the preservation of peace on the basis of respect for treaties." Admirable and gentle words these, setting forth purposes which all men must approve.
Belgian King Albert I.'s position after the war was precarious, same could be said about his country: his refusal of German offer of an alliance meant, that Belgium remained on worst possible terms with it's powerful neighbours. Blockade from both sides of conflict meant deep economic downfall worsen by the Flemish revolts and demonstrations, not helped by leftist pro-French agitations of Walloon part of the country - all of this, while watching France crushed two times and Royal Navy's mighty battleships sunk in the Channel by Krupp-made guns. Flooded by political refugees from France under German occupation and then under control by the conservative military dictatorship ensured, that very survival of the country was in doubt - without single shot fired in the war.
The Tsar Alexander abandoned his Liberal theories and threw himself into the arms of Metternich, as mean a tyrant as history can show, whose sinister designs probably caused, as much misery and oppression in the years which followed as have ever been evolved by one man of second rate abilities.
If, owing to such alterations, immediate danger threatens other States, the powers bind themselves, by peaceful means, or, if need be, by arms, to bring back the guilty State into the bosom of the great alliance." To this point had the innocent and laudable declarations of the treaty of Paris already developed.
The Holy Alliance, thus developed by the three continental powers and accepted by France under the Bourbons, proceeded to restore the Inquisition in Spain, to re-establish the Neapolitan Bourbons, who for 40 years were to subject the people of southern Italy to one of the most detestable tyrannies ever known, and proposed further to interfere against the colonies in South America which had revolted from Spain and to have their case submitted to a congress of the powers.
I have taken the trouble to trace in the merest outline the development of the Holy Alliance, so hostile and dangerous to human freedom, because I think it carries with it a lesson for us at the present moment, showing as it does what may come from general propositions and declarations of purposes in which all the world agrees.
Poster of the Industrial Workers of the World, founded in 1905. Regarded too radical even by other unions, in 1920s, it's growth continued in relatively slow but steady pace, with membership numbers exploding only in turbulent 1930s, especially after election of Socialist candidate to the office of the President of United States.
Turn to the preamble of the Covenant of the International Court of Arbitration now before us, which states the object of the Arbitration Court. It is formed "in order to promote international respect to the law and to achieve international harmony and security by the acceptance of obligations not to ignore injustice, by the prescription of determined, just, and honorable relations between nations, by the firm establishment of the understandings of international laws as the actual rule of conduct among governments and by the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organized peoples with one another."
No one would contest the loftiness or the benevolence of these purposes. Brave words, indeed! They do not differ essentially from the preamble of the Treaty of Paris,from which sprang the Holy Alliance. But the covenant of this 'Court' contains a provision which I do not find in the treaty of Paris, and which is as follows:
"The Court may deal at its meetings with any matter affecting the peace of the world."
In spite of loud calls for vigilance and resistance against 'medieval despotism' of Germany, the majority of American people buried world's problems deeply beneath their own dreams of ever growing prosperity. Plans to build a greatest Navy in the world able to fight the Kaiserliche Marine were scrapped and newly elected President Wood only managed to save budget for the Army, arguing, that very the least, uncertain political situation in Canada after British defeat, combined with victory of Zapatistas in Mexico called for a standing army more resembling the ones of Europe. Fear of socialist or anarchist uprisings was non-existent, at the time, compared to defeated Britain, but was clearly a part of the argument too.
There is no such sweeping or far-reaching provision as that in the Treaty of Paris, and yet able men developed from that treaty the Holy Alliance, which England, and later France, were forced to abandon and which, for thirty-five years, was an unmitigated curse to the world.
England broke from the Holy Alliance and the breach began three years after it was formed, because English statesmen saw that it was intended to turn the alliance — and this 'arbitration court' is an alliance — into a means of repressing internal revolutions or insurrections.
The United States had plenty of their own problems to solve: when it wasn't military weakness, it was Ponzi's scheme (which gave the world entirely new term for a massive fraud), debates over Prohibition - or disturbingly racist and violent KKK, which was now focused against Jews and Roman Catholics too. Rise of antisemite rhetorics in Britain and Canada - and reappearance of Papal States - futher convinced many Americans who surely must have caused the war. Inability of the Federal government to suppress the dangerous organisation were amongst the causes of the major parties' eventual decline.
I object in the strongest possible way to having the United States agree, directly or indirectly, to be controlled by a 'court' which may at any time, and perfectly lawfully and in accordance with the terms of the covenant, be drawn in to deal with internal conflicts in other countries, no matter what those conflicts may be.
- Speech of Philander C. Knox of Pennsylvania, August 29th, 1919
I am vitally concerned in the peace of this world, and peace we must all have if it can be attainable. But, Mr. President, I am convinced after the most painstaking consideration that I can give, that this Treaty does not spell peace but war — war more woeful and devastating than the one now closed.
All dominions and colonies left alone by the Central Powers found themselves in entirely unexpected situation: quite absurd one, since technically, Germany liberated them from position of Britain's conqueror, when most of them supported the United Kingdom to the end with fervour and loyalty not seen on the own British soil. But it was Australia, which reacted the most efficiently to the unpleasant prospects of near future.
The instrument before us is not the Treaty but the Truce of Westminster. It is for this body — the co-ordinate treaty-making power of this great neutral nation of ours — to support a peace treaty if possible, or if that be impossible then we must put this nation in such relation to the treaty and to the powers of the world that our voice may hereafter as heretofore be always raised for peace.
What is it, sir, about these things that the people cannot know? What is there to hide from them?
Must we tolerate this thing as much as the British people must take it, unsight and unseen?
The Australia faced many challenges: left-wing opposition remained vocal, isolationist United States couldn't be count on as an ally, so the Anglo-Japanese Alliance stood as the literally only option. Greater population was desperately needed and sought, accepting Englishmen escaping the torn country, South Africans not pleased with Afrikaner pro-German takeover and changes, same as Russian, Italian or French immigrants, who lost their houses, family or their entire country to their enemies. In 1919, just before Treaty of Westminster was signed, the new Constitution was approved, officially replacing the office of Governor-General of Australia by the one of the King George I. of newly designed 'Crown of Oceania', who made great impression upon his arrival, better than his brother in Canada. Very soon, he married local celebrity and renamed his House to Windsor-Canberra - the name of new capital, which was actually under construction. Eventually, in 1922, after extensive negotiations, Australia and New Zealand formed the new country: Federation of Oceania.
Mr. President, a treaty of peace has two great functions: In the first place it ends the war and brings back peace; and in the next place it gives to the victor his spoils, which normally take the form of territorial adjustments and monetary or other indemnity, either merely to make good his losses, or in addition to impose a penalty. If the victor be guided by a wise statesmanship he so accommodates his spoils as not to sow seeds for another conflict with his erstwhile enemy.
The Great War now ending was bottomed on Prussian militarist violation of this fundamental principle. Germany overlooked her lack of colonies, but she never forgot or forgave the reality of 'encirclement' by defensive coalitions. There are, I warn you, senators, many new coalitions against the treaty laid before us for action this very moment.
We recalled that the Teutonic peoples were in origin and early tradition a free people who knew no masters. And we judged that they shall soon rid of those rulers who had debauched their intellects for generations, this mighty people would reassert their racial characteristics as had their sons who had come to us, and that they would become in turn a great, free people.
The anger from the 'double defeat' by the arms of German military turned in peace against revolting North African populations, using the opportunity to carve their own destiny. But these were not in the designs of 'Weltpolitik' of German Empire, therefore they ceased to exist as soon as possible.
We had and have a some sympathy for them as misguided and misdirected, and we did hope that, even after they win the war, they will liberate themselves from an intellectual despotism they seemed not to sense, and that thereafter they would arise a free great people.
But there is also one power we miss in all this, the power which met the brunt of the German shock while the rest of the world got ready. Who had there pitted against the whole German Army, two-thirds of the whole Austrian Army, all of the Hungarian Army, and two-thirds of the whole Turkish Army. I speak of poor, ever despot-ridden Russia. Russia whose men in battle front, unarmed and unequipped, faced the German onrush of cold steel with bare breasts and clenched fists Russia whose people and rulers stood forefront, this Russia, with this record, is mentioned in this treaty but only with ominous words that presage her national destruction.
Obscure, but fascinating invention just few years before the war - the planes were not even armed at first. Pilots used pistols at best - by the end of war, the bombers were armed with the first automatic cannons and first all-metal fighters were constructed, though it will take a decades, before the both became common.
Russia, sir, is a problem, but dismemberment by others is not its solution. And shall I tell you, Mr. President, what the intelligent Russians, those of the great so-called middle classes, are saying? It is this, — we must first recover ourselves and wipe out the dishonor of our collapse, the dishonor of forsaking our allies in the hour of their dire need.
And this thought brings me to speak again of what I have said heretofore, that this treaty, stripped of its meaningless monarchic provisions, provides merely and simply for an alliance between the few great powers in a coalition against the balance of the world.
The Japanese focus on the development and building of aircraft carriers received a greatest boost by the failure of post-war Washington Naval Conference, where German Empire declined any possibility to scrap newly built or ordered Kronprinz-class and Graf Spee-class battleships. Aside from land-based naval bombers, the ones carried on ship could close the gap in superiority of German battlefleet.
Lacking the wisdom to go forward and inflict a military punishment that would have uprooted their philosophy of force and taught them the lesson of live and let live, we have left them alone, victorious, more proud and arrogant, with their mighty spirit risen ever more, with their damning philosophy unchanged, and with a will, fired by only more contempt for virtues of liberty.
That people will no more cease to plot and plan to enlarge and maintain their high estate, than did Satan plunged into the abysmal depths of Hell. Germany's agents, secretly or openly, will be at work with enemies of democracy, perhaps with enslaved France, and surely with Japan — whose conceptions, ideals, aspirations, and ambitions are really of Imperial Germany, not democratic America, Britain or Canada.
Not only deadliest weapons in history so far were developed in the war: organisation of medical services same as new research in fields of biochemistry, first aid, psychology or cosmetic surgery - so important for so many unfortunate soldiers - ensured, that something inherently only good came from the bloodshed.
Nothing in all our history, sir, has called for a clearer perception of present and future, a keener or juster understanding of our free institutions, a clearer vision of the mighty mission of our great nation in the world, or the dedication of a purer and loftier patriotism, than our reaction to this treaty. Unless, sir, we shall have the guidance of the Infinite wisdom, we shall fail in our duty, and wrecking - our beloved country, earn the odium of its treasonable betrayance.
All dominions and colonies left alone by the Central Powers found themselves in entirely unexpected situation: quite absurd one, since technically, Germany liberated them from position of Britain's conqueror, when most of them supported the United Kingdom to the end with fervour and loyalty not seen on the own British soil. But it was Australia, which reacted the most efficiently to the unpleasant prospects of near future.
The instrument before us is not the Treaty but the Truce of Westminster. It is for this body — the co-ordinate treaty-making power of this great neutral nation of ours — to support a peace treaty if possible, or if that be impossible then we must put this nation in such relation to the treaty and to the powers of the world that our voice may hereafter as heretofore be always raised for peace.
What is it, sir, about these things that the people cannot know? What is there to hide from them?
Must we tolerate this thing as much as the British people must take it, unsight and unseen?
The Australia faced many challenges: left-wing opposition remained vocal, isolationist United States couldn't be count on as an ally, so the Anglo-Japanese Alliance stood as the literally only option. Greater population was desperately needed and sought, accepting Englishmen escaping the torn country, South Africans not pleased with Afrikaner pro-German takeover and changes, same as Russian, Italian or French immigrants, who lost their houses, family or their entire country to their enemies. In 1919, just before Treaty of Westminster was signed, the new Constitution was approved, officially replacing the office of Governor-General of Australia by the one of the King George I. of newly designed 'Crown of Oceania', who made great impression upon his arrival, better than his brother in Canada. Very soon, he married local celebrity and renamed his House to Windsor-Canberra - the name of new capital, which was actually under construction. Eventually, in 1922, after extensive negotiations, Australia and New Zealand formed the new country: Federation of Oceania.
Mr. President, a treaty of peace has two great functions: In the first place it ends the war and brings back peace; and in the next place it gives to the victor his spoils, which normally take the form of territorial adjustments and monetary or other indemnity, either merely to make good his losses, or in addition to impose a penalty. If the victor be guided by a wise statesmanship he so accommodates his spoils as not to sow seeds for another conflict with his erstwhile enemy.
The Great War now ending was bottomed on Prussian militarist violation of this fundamental principle. Germany overlooked her lack of colonies, but she never forgot or forgave the reality of 'encirclement' by defensive coalitions. There are, I warn you, senators, many new coalitions against the treaty laid before us for action this very moment.
We recalled that the Teutonic peoples were in origin and early tradition a free people who knew no masters. And we judged that they shall soon rid of those rulers who had debauched their intellects for generations, this mighty people would reassert their racial characteristics as had their sons who had come to us, and that they would become in turn a great, free people.
The anger from the 'double defeat' by the arms of German military turned in peace against revolting North African populations, using the opportunity to carve their own destiny. But these were not in the designs of 'Weltpolitik' of German Empire, therefore they ceased to exist as soon as possible.
We had and have a some sympathy for them as misguided and misdirected, and we did hope that, even after they win the war, they will liberate themselves from an intellectual despotism they seemed not to sense, and that thereafter they would arise a free great people.
But there is also one power we miss in all this, the power which met the brunt of the German shock while the rest of the world got ready. Who had there pitted against the whole German Army, two-thirds of the whole Austrian Army, all of the Hungarian Army, and two-thirds of the whole Turkish Army. I speak of poor, ever despot-ridden Russia. Russia whose men in battle front, unarmed and unequipped, faced the German onrush of cold steel with bare breasts and clenched fists Russia whose people and rulers stood forefront, this Russia, with this record, is mentioned in this treaty but only with ominous words that presage her national destruction.
Obscure, but fascinating invention just few years before the war - the planes were not even armed at first. Pilots used pistols at best - by the end of war, the bombers were armed with the first automatic cannons and first all-metal fighters were constructed, though it will take a decades, before the both became common.
Russia, sir, is a problem, but dismemberment by others is not its solution. And shall I tell you, Mr. President, what the intelligent Russians, those of the great so-called middle classes, are saying? It is this, — we must first recover ourselves and wipe out the dishonor of our collapse, the dishonor of forsaking our allies in the hour of their dire need.
And this thought brings me to speak again of what I have said heretofore, that this treaty, stripped of its meaningless monarchic provisions, provides merely and simply for an alliance between the few great powers in a coalition against the balance of the world.
The Japanese focus on the development and building of aircraft carriers received a greatest boost by the failure of post-war Washington Naval Conference, where German Empire declined any possibility to scrap newly built or ordered Kronprinz-class and Graf Spee-class battleships. Aside from land-based naval bombers, the ones carried on ship could close the gap in superiority of German battlefleet.
Lacking the wisdom to go forward and inflict a military punishment that would have uprooted their philosophy of force and taught them the lesson of live and let live, we have left them alone, victorious, more proud and arrogant, with their mighty spirit risen ever more, with their damning philosophy unchanged, and with a will, fired by only more contempt for virtues of liberty.
That people will no more cease to plot and plan to enlarge and maintain their high estate, than did Satan plunged into the abysmal depths of Hell. Germany's agents, secretly or openly, will be at work with enemies of democracy, perhaps with enslaved France, and surely with Japan — whose conceptions, ideals, aspirations, and ambitions are really of Imperial Germany, not democratic America, Britain or Canada.
Not only deadliest weapons in history so far were developed in the war: organisation of medical services same as new research in fields of biochemistry, first aid, psychology or cosmetic surgery - so important for so many unfortunate soldiers - ensured, that something inherently only good came from the bloodshed.
Nothing in all our history, sir, has called for a clearer perception of present and future, a keener or juster understanding of our free institutions, a clearer vision of the mighty mission of our great nation in the world, or the dedication of a purer and loftier patriotism, than our reaction to this treaty. Unless, sir, we shall have the guidance of the Infinite wisdom, we shall fail in our duty, and wrecking - our beloved country, earn the odium of its treasonable betrayance.
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Let's see...Now the Hapsburgs need to be brought under control....You can try to save china from itself...maybe improve your economy
Groot Neerlandisme. Promoting the idea in the Netherlands and Flanders could make for a loyal, mid-sized ally in the west, with acces to an important rubber and oil colony