ALEX RAMSAY, M.A., B.D.  Pastor of the Highgate Presbyterian Church,
London.

W.B.  SELBIE, M.A., D.D.  Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford.  Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales.

J. HERBERT STEAD, M.A.  Glasgow.  Warden of the Robert Browning
Settlement, London.

Prof.  Harnack in Rebuttal

BERLIN, Sept. 10, 1914.

Gentlemen:  The words, “The conduct of Great Britain is that of a traitor to civilization,” were not used by me, but you have expressed my general judgment of this conduct correctly.  The sentence in question in my speech reads:  “This, our culture, the chief treasure of mankind, was in large part, yes, almost wholly, intrusted to three peoples:  To us, to the Americans, and—­to the English, I will say no more.  I cover my head.”  To my deep sorrow I must, even after your communication, maintain this judgment.

You claim that England has drawn and must draw the sword purely for the protection of the small nations of Servia and Belgium and for the sake of an international treaty.  In this claim I see at the very least a fearful self-delusion.

It is an actual fact that what Servia desired was that her Government should in no wise be mixed up with the shameful crime of Serajevo, and it is also an established fact that for years Servia, with the support of Russia, has attempted by the most despicable means to incite to rebellion the Austrian South Slavs.  When Austria finally issued to her a decided ultimatum without making any actual attack on her territory, it was the duty of every civilized land—­England as well—­to keep hands off, for Austria’s royal house, Austria’s honor, and Austria’s existence were attacked.  Austria’s yielding to Servia would mean the sovereignty of Russia in the eastern half of the Balkans, for Servia is nothing more than a Russian satrapy, and the Balkan federation brought about by Russia had for its ultimate purpose opposition to Austria.  This is as well known in England as in Germany.  If, gentlemen, in spite of this, you can presume to judge that in this circumstance it was purely a case of protecting the right of a small nation against a large one, I shall find great difficulty in believing in your good faith.

Against Pan-Slavism.

It was not a question of little Servia but of Austria’s battle for life and the struggle of Western culture against Pan-Slavism.  Servia is, after all, only an outpost of Russia and as opposed to this nation, Servia’s “sovereignty” is less than a mere shadow; in fact it can hardly be protected by England, for in reality it does not exist.  For in addition Servia, through the most dastardly murder known to history, struck her name from the list of the nations with which one does business as equals.  What would England have done had the Prince of Wales been assassinated by the emissary of a little nation which had continually been inciting the Irish