NOTES 297 



intend to seize, in order that other nations should not seize 

 them first. We will place paid spies in the dominions of our 

 friendly neighbours. We will secretly prepare platforms for 

 our great guns in peaceful rural spots, and bases for our sub- 

 marines in peaceful seas. Nay, further, we will regulate the 

 minds of rulers abroad ; for all men, including kings, have 

 their price ; and we will take this price from our great war 

 chest when the moment comes. At the same time every man 

 among our people shall be trained to war, first in order to 

 insure victory, and secondly in order to make him our accom- 

 plice. Then, when everything is matured and ready, we will 

 strike. They will cry out, they will shriek, they will writhe, 

 but they will be powerless. We will prepare beforehand the 

 lies which shall prove that we were the wronged and that 

 they were the aggressors. 



In the history of humanity there has been no crime like 

 this. A Macbeth murders a Duncan, and the half-human 

 criminal plots assassination for his personal profit ; but they 

 are criminals. Barbarous kings have led their hosts against 

 prosperous countries — but they were barbarians. Worthy 

 nations have made wars against savages or non-civilised and 

 disorderly neighbours — and without blame. But this war has 

 been organised in a time of high civilisation, for offence against 

 prosperous equals. The preparations were made, not for any 

 general good of humanity, but for personal profit, or for what 

 the fools who designed the war considered to be glory. But 

 there is no glory in it ; for the preparations, even if they prove 

 successful, will always be, not the preparations of a noble 

 soldier defending his country, but those of a brigand arranging 

 an ambuscade. There will not be three names in history, but 

 only two — and one of them will be Judas. This William the 

 Evil has betrayed mankind as Judas betrayed Christ ; and 

 his stupid and barbarous liar-nation will have to pay the for- 

 feit for centuries to come. 1 



1 The atrocities perpetrated in this war were probably due directly to the 

 Emperor, as it is hard to conceive that any council of officers (even German 

 officers) would have sanctioned them. His capacity for deceit, treachery, and 

 intrigue has recently been proved by his message of August 1914 to President 

 Wilson and by his correspondence of 1904-5 with the Tsar ; and to-day the whole 

 world, including Germany, recognises from his character, actions, and speeches 

 that it was really he who conceived, prepared, and precipitated this disaster for 

 humanity. 



