# 2
Thucydides makes the distinction between the more remote or
underlying and immediate causes of wars.
Using Thucydides' axiom, I hypothesize that Kaiser Wilhelm was
not solely guilty for starting the Great War. The Allies share in the blame.
The Origins of the World War
by Sidney Bradshaw Fay
...however, scholars have begun to explore more fully and
justly the remoter causes of the War.
In each of these phases there has been a change in the angle
from which the question has been approached.
At first, during the War, writers sought to fix the "guilt" for
having caused this un-paralleled "crime" upon a few single
individuals--chiefly the Kaiser, the Pan-Germanists, and the
Austrian and German militarists.
Then, with the publication of more complete documents which
began in 1919, it was seen that the Entente thesis of the sole responsibility of Germany and her allies was no longer tenable,
and writers who demanded a "revision" of the Treaty of Versailles tended to go to the other extreme of fixing the "guilt" upon Entente
In each of these phases there has been a change in the angle
from which the question has been approached.
At first, during the War, writers sought to fix the "guilt" for
having caused this un-paralleled "crime" upon a few single
individuals--chiefly the Kaiser, the Pan-Germanists, and the
Austrian and German militarists.
Then, with the publication of more complete documents which
began in 1919, it was seen that the Entente thesis of the sole responsibility of Germany and her allies was no longer tenable,
and writers who demanded a "revision" of the Treaty of Versailles tended to go to the other extreme of fixing the "guilt" upon Entente
leaders--MM. Izvolski, Poincare, Sazonov, and even upon
Sir Edward Grey.
Finally, with the growing realization that all the Powers were
more or less responsible, and with the increased attention which
came to be given to the underlying causes of the War, more
judiciously and historically minded persons were less inclined
to accept the easy solution of explaining the War on the scapegoat
or personal devil theory--that is, of the "guilt" of this or that
individual.
(1)
Finally, with the growing realization that all the Powers were
more or less responsible, and with the increased attention which
came to be given to the underlying causes of the War, more
judiciously and historically minded persons were less inclined
to accept the easy solution of explaining the War on the scapegoat
or personal devil theory--that is, of the "guilt" of this or that
individual.
(1)
They fell back on the truer explanation that the War was
caused by the system of international anarchy involved in
alliances, armaments, and secret diplomacy.
(2)
But, after all, the "system" was worked by individuals; their
personal acts build it up and caused it to explode in 1914.
In the discussion of the future, it will be the work of the historian
(2)
But, after all, the "system" was worked by individuals; their
personal acts build it up and caused it to explode in 1914.
In the discussion of the future, it will be the work of the historian
to explain the political, economic, and psychological motives which caused these individuals to act as they did.
He will also cease to talk about "war guilt", since no person in
He will also cease to talk about "war guilt", since no person in
authority was guilty of deliberately working to bring about
a general European War.
But he will still continue to discuss the "responsibility" which each statesman must bear for acts which ultimately contributed to the catastrophe.
But he will still continue to discuss the "responsibility" which each statesman must bear for acts which ultimately contributed to the catastrophe.
For this reason the present writer has always preferred the
term "war responsibility" to "war guilt".
The German phrase, Kreigsschuldfrage, is open to either interpretation.
The German phrase, Kreigsschuldfrage, is open to either interpretation.
(1) Cf. M. H. Cochran, "New Phase of War Guilt Controversy," in
Current History, XXVI, 71-76, April, 1927.
(2) Mr. G. Lowes Dickinson gives a scholarly, effective, and charmingly
written exposition of this view: The International Anarchy, 1904-1914,
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