They want money, treasure, land, indemnities, minerals, raw materials; and they set out to take them.
Now confusing this character of the war with some sort of rational dispute about something, the pacifists try in every way to stop it, so that the "issue" may be reasoned out, debated, discussed, negotiated.

Surely the President tried to reach peace--tried as hard and as long as the people would allow him.

The Germans argued away time with him while they got their submarine fleet built.

Then they carried out the programme they had always had in mind and had never thought of abandoning.

Now they wish to gain more time, to slacken the efforts of the Allies, if possible to separate them by asking for "discussions"-- peace by "negotiation." When you are about to kill the robber, he cries out, "For God's sake, let's discuss the question between us.