The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-23
SEES NO WARRANT TO
CRITICISE GERMANY


10 THE EDITOR OF THE suS-sir. May
I have the privilege OF uttering the fol-
lowing words of warning through the
columns of your respected paper?
President Wilson's plea for the public
to remain strictly neutral has special ref
erence to the offer OF mediation he re-
Gently extended to the warning Powers
OF Europe. II we display n tendency to
be biassed In our opinions the United
States will prove unacceptable as a me-
diator. for nowadays the people of all
truly great nations are known to be back
OF their overnments--Germany being no
xceptlon--despite the many odd benevo-
lent attempts recently made to prove tho
contrary.
In the flood OF recrimination that has
arisen over the European war American
letter writer's are rapidly allowing them
selves to be drawn into positions that are
false and untenable. and are likely to
expose us to a great deal OF ridicule.
For the simple reason that our own hands
are by no means clean there are at beast
four points upon which these gratuitous
adverse criticisms of foreign affairs are
exceedingly III advised namely:
First-The criticism of militarism.
second-The criticism OF Austria's ac-
ton against Servia.
Third-The criticism OF the violation by
a powerful nation OF neutrality Of an In
fer.or sovereign State.
Fourth-'rhe criticism OF Germany's
abandoned attempt at mediation
How can we afford to condemn the
milltarism OF Germany, which Is very
urgent measure of self-defence, when we.
a nation of unequal.ed latent power and
resources. with no dangerous foes on our
borders, with no entangling alliances and
with 1000 miles of water separating us
from the scenes OF European conflicts.
have ailaat to-day a tremendously formi-
dable battle feet second to but one fleet
In the world?
How can we. in view OF our treatment
of spain, afford to condemn either Aus
tria's demand on Servia, or her action
subsequent toiServias refusal OF this de-
mand? Did we agree TO have spanish
court investigate for us the destruction
OF the Maine? Nay, nay; we proved to
our own satisfaction that the Maine was
blown up from without and thereupon.
though unable to connect either Spanish
citizens or the Spanish Government d.
reetly with the outrage. we declared war
on Spain-and spanked her well. What
ever high mora. GROUNDS we may haNc
set forth to explain our retention OF
Cuba and Porto Rico these cannot exceed
the Justice of the seizure by the Ger
mans in 1870 of the province or Alsace-
Lorraine. which was originally German
territory.
We recently refused, 10 recognize the
Huerta Government In Mexico (Which sew
oral great Powers did recognize) because
we claimed that It's accession was irregu-
lar and rested upon assassination Huerta
protested that his installation as President
pro TEN. was entirely regular and that
the killing was subsequent TO this ann
accustomed purely by attempted night
on the part OF the prisoners. What
ever may be the truth OF this matter II
4. an undisputed fact that the present
Seryian Government Is IN office only as a
direct result OF the brutal murder by
eervians OF their own King and Queen.
Austria did not go so far as 10 refuse
recognition TO the new servian Govern
ment but she did very logically refuse
20 believe that such a Government would
ampartially Investigate and punish the
murder OF Archduke Franz Ferdinand and
his wife without the presence or Austria
representatives at the proceedings rms
assumption was especially Just IN we"
of the fact that the murder was the
result OF propa ganda then very popular In
6ervia.
Why not look facts In the face? II
our unsolicited interference In Mexico
had led 10 a conspiracy there resulting
in the murder OF an American official
even much less prominent than Presi-
dent-elect. we would have handed Mexico
n very short and harsh ultimatum, and
would have backed II up with our entire
navy and with an army or some 100000
men. As matter OF fact we were on the
verge OF doing all this for comparativel,
trivial reason.
n CnnhRmn
many's violation of the neutrality oil
weaker States when we contemplate on
treatment OF Mexico? Did the fact tina
we would not recognize the Government
pro TEN. give us the right to reverse oul
previous neutral position 10 the extern
of raising the embargo on arms ant
thereby fostering n rebellion in a friendl!
neghborlng State? We excuse our inter
ference on high moral grounds. but arr
We right? A great many Americans WIFI
have lived and worked In Mexico CLAIM
that we are backing the wrong horse
and that matters will he worse instead
Of becoming better, and Europe evidentl!
agrees with them.
Ert aside from this, how can we de
Gentry explain the fact that after agree
ing to 40 armistce with the Huerta Gov
eminent we permitted the shipment q
large clrgoes Of arms for use agains
said Government? How can We condemn
the policy Of Germany In violating Belgian
neutrality as a military exigency when "
violated Mexican territory by the forclbl
seizure Of Vera Cruz (and Of its water
works fifteen miles distanO as a militar
exigency 10 prevent the landing of arm
tor the Mexican Government?
In what respect has Nuremberg suffere
Through the passage OF German troop
land In what respect would Belgium hav
Vasered In permitting a similar passag
or toops) other than in such a bio,
20 her national pride as We coolry In
Tlcted without even the formality q
previous promises OF indemnity and terri
torial integrity, such as Germany offered
Mexico has no powerful friends n
the threat of our mailed fist we have final
coerced her de facto Government II
the reversal OF our original neutrality, b
tho violation dn spirit at least) OF ou
\ ermistioe and by the forclble seizure {
Y ps1ican territory we have made possib