Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-28
ARNOLD BENNETT WANTS
GERMANY TRIED BY NEUTRAIS
Suggests President Wilson Preside at Tra-A
Distinctly British View of the Case of Belgium Which the
Fatherand is Assumed to Be the Defendant the Dock.
Bv FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE


President Wilson, with Germany In the dock
on an Indictment reading 'Belgiumw This
is. In substance, Arnold Benefits reply to q
question as to the most effective service Amer
lea can render civilization at the present crisis
in the worlds history.
on every hand Americans in England hear
the view seriously expressed that our sympa-
thy for the Alles-or what Is believed here to
be the sympathy Of at least 20 per cent. Of us
ought to take a more positive and tangible
form than merely platonic sentiment. Many
Englishmen are paraphrasing what the old
German historian. Theodor Mommsen, once said
to me during the South African War when l
told him that the vast majority of Americans
undoubtedly sided with the Beers: THAT is
all very WELL but why don't you do something?
Platonc love never bore children"
Englshmen who feel that America ought to
be "a hero in the strife" submit that Britain
and France are fighting our battle as well as
theirs. They say that the British navy stands
not only between Kaserism and these isles,
but between German mllltarsm and its frankly
confessed designs on Monroeism Such a view
is held by Arnold Bennett, with whom have
just had tho privilege Of discussing this par
tlcular phase of the situation at his pretty
country place at Thorpe-le-soken, in Essex.
Bennett like all thinkers of his and
generation. abhors war: but he is at one with
them today in insisting that there can never
again be peace TIL ''the German menace" has
been stamped out for all time to come. 1
asked the author OF your United States" to
which he paid a memorable visit three years
ago to air his opinions to the most effect
ual role neutral America can play amid the
crash and din OF Europe's titanic killings.
Benefits View of Our Duty
The idea that the Allies fight for America
as well as for themselves Is lucldly advanced
in Benefits 'Liberty-A Statement Of Eng
lands Case" which is OF the most popular
and telling of the many preachments on tho
war now crowding the English bookstalls
1T didn't want the assurance Of ono
like yourself, fresh from the United States"
said Bennett, Ito convince me that the great
majority of people in America are strongly on
the side OF the Allies in this affair 1 have
had lots of letters from American friends and
readers, and they leave me In no doubt on the
point other English writer's receiving
quantities Of evidence of the same kind as to
what you think over there,
'The fact is tho proofs OF sympathy are so
striking that we have begun to ask ourselves
whether such sympathy could not be turned
into deeds, and ought not to be turned into
deeds.
Some persons in England, perhaps, consider
that you ought to mobilize your army and navy
and cross the Atlantic with both. don't In
deed, I consider such an idea entirely absurd.
The United States has shown that she can
night but on the present occasion her moral
force will be far more useful than her guns,
however efficient they may be- At least that's
my opinion.
IT'S true that just now we are hghtng the
battle of the United States as we'll our
own But we can manage We can, believe,
keep cur end up. and a bit more, in the alter
cation. I've been gradually coming to this
conclusion for some time-and 80 have lot OF
other Englishmen.
'If we were going to be beaten America
would assuredly have to create army and
increase her navy-and quickly, too Only
aren't So that America Is free to confne her
self to the moral role. This is not easy
role.
Moral Role Needs Courage
1.-The Kaiser las he still is) might and prob
ably would smile at the moral role.
but the Kaiser doesn't understand every
thing-even in the conduct OF war. See how
he is mixing up political and military considera-
tions at the present time. The moral role needs
Just as much courage as the military role In
deed, 1t needs more
'The Kaiser and his stan don't sit in the
trenches and they doubtless take care to get
a good meal every few hours. They only tell
other people to go out and starve and get
wounded and killed. But II the United States
undertook such a moral role as have in mind,
It is President Wilson himself and his great
est officials who would have TO sit In the
trenches
"Now there are two things 1 want you TO
understand before you go any further First
have no wish that the United States by moral
intervention should try to end this We
prefer to end this war ourselves. Germany be-
gan it in her way. believe that we shall end
it in
Urges Conclave of Neutrals
SECONDLY I have no notion whatever OF
teaching President Wilson his business. We in
England clearly realize that President Wilson
is in an extremely dhicult and delicate situa-
tlon and is proving splendIdIy equal to It, I'm
not a diplomatIsti I'm novelist. But even
noyeists have ideas occasionally.
IT have had idea for the utilization OF the
warm sympathy and the moral force OF the
United States at the present time. Others may
have had the same Ideal don't know All
know Is that I've had It, I offer It with the
greatest dihidence and Difference,
ITS this-that the United States as the
greatest and most powerful neutral State.
should as soon possible invite the other
neutral States OF the world to assemble in con-
elaye at The Hague. II ever the court OF
arbitral Justice, recommended by the second
Hague conference, is 10 be inaugurated, now
is the moment for doing 80.