Lord Cromer sent a valuable letter to the Times of
Tuesday on Herr von Bethmann Hollweg's speech in the Reichstag. He suggested that some official answer should be made to that speech, if only to show to the world, and possibly to such Germans as still have ears to hear, what we are really fighting for. He lays down three propositions :—
"The first of these is that there can be no prospect of a durable peace eo long as uncontrolled Junkerdom reigns supremo in Germany. Th-3 second is that any change in the direction of bringing Junkerdom under effective control must be the work of the Germans themselves. Even if the Germans were completely vanquished it would be a fatal error to endeavour to impose from without any internal reforms on Germany. The capital error made at the time of the Declaration of Pillnitz must not be repeated. The third is that we need not and should not continue the struggle for mere military glory, or to humiliate Germany, or, in the German Chancellor's words, to obstruct 'the economic evolution' of Germany, or even to avenge the cruel misdeeds perpetrated by the German Army with the consent and approbation of its commanders. But we cannot, in justice to ourselves, to the rest of Europe, and to posterity, lay down the sword until the Germans are converted."
This is wisdom. The assertions that we want to destroy Germany or German freedom (if there is such a thing) are rubbish intended only for German consumption.
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