New-York tribune., 1914-11-22
MIR. Choate's Manifesto
p cHoATE IN ENGLAND-THE ToUCH-GERMANY IN SCI
rNCE ART, IN LITERArURE-MR CH0ATES DIPLOMACY-THI
EMOTIONAL CONAN DoYLE-PR PRNCE LOUIS AND CHURCHILL

OeofFv W. Smsleyl
/ that many Of them are spies who be
came naturaliged in order 10 pursue
their hideous spy-trsde with impunity.
IL may not be understood in America
that naturalization in Great Britain is,
or was, hardly more than formallty.
There was neither inquiry nor delay.
fee Of $25 was paid. papers were
thereupon issued, and the German ap-
picant became at once. in law, Brit
ish subject. Now, Of course, precau-
tions are taken. and very few petitions
for naturalization have been granted
since the war began. But are the pre-
war nRturalizations 70 hold good with
spies. or even with suspects?
Such declarations as those OF Sir Ar
thur Conan Doyle elicit. naturally
enough. protests. He is described as a
contributor TO the funds OF "the Com
mittee for the Assistance of Germans,
Austrians and Hungarians in Dis
tress.' There are plenty Of Britons
and Belglans and Frenchmen in dis
tress. Are the Germans TO have prece-
dence? lie is charged with publishing
in America war story in which Eng
land is depicted as utterly defeated.
He replies that the story was pub
hshed in England in July. and was
meant as warning against sub
marines. But il appears that II was
republished in an American magazine
dated September 27. 1914. Nobody dis
putes, that l know Of, Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle's good intentions or his
loyalty. II is in judgment that he is
thought 70 be lacking. and he cannot
expect nation fighting for life or
death 70 approve his sympathies with
her enemies, or with their distresses.
Prince Louis and Mr.. Churchill.
II has been evident for some time
that Prince Louis of Bsttenberg must
so. His loyalty and capacity we're
beyond dispute, but there was deep
feeling in the country that his Ger
man birth was, as Mr.. Churchill now
calls Il. an "ineradicable" difficulty.
England at war with Germany and the
English navy in charge Of a German
was something more than an anomaly;
il was danger. II threw a kind or
shield over other Germans in positions
OF responsibility or in positions OF
opportunity. 1t created distrust. IL
even created suspicion. The Prince
has friends in America. as he has IN
England, who will regret his depart
ure. but he had to go: These are days
when no personal considerations can
be allowed TO weigh against nationai
interests.
There was another reason, un-
avowed. Prince Louis was thought 70
be too docile an instrument IN the
hands of Mr.. Churchill. The tradl-
tions OF the Admiralty make the sea
Lords supreme in purely naval ma
ters. The First Lord is but far-
liamentary chief, or ought 10 oe'
through whom civil control is nam
toined as il ought 20 be. But Mr..
Churchill is a very mastertul person
aGtv. of boundless energy and bound
less ambition. He had become the
Board OF Admiralty; alike in civil and
~ naval matters. He bent Prince
louis TO his will. He presided over
strategy at sea as well as over ad-
rinistration on shore. He even TOOK
command of fleets during cruises ana
rnannuvres. The danger is obvious
The handling Of ships and the nghtlhs
~ sea battles are not for an amateur, no
matter how able or versatile. II tneIe
was one man who stood up against
Nr. Churchill il was and is, II you pc
iieve what YOU hear from competent
naval authorities, not Prince LOUIS
bu+ Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, who or
6ers matters in the North Sea to ms
own liking. p.;u,o
louis is made Of different stuff. lie ~
81 sailor whom the Navy and the Nation
trust. His services have been immense
MS authority is undisputed. or the
NAVY as il exists he may be called the
Author. He has moulded ships ana ser
vice at his will. II is tolerably sale 70
suppose that he will continue 10 90 SO
or Mr.. Churchill's farreaching as
sumptions of an authority which is not
his there are more stories tnan one
His escapade at Antwerp was his latest
and perhaps greatest mistake. lie
seems to have been allowed by mis- col
leagues 20 organize and employ Naval
Brigades as he would. He went with
them into the trenches. He witnessed
and encouraged their gal liant attempts
at the impossible. Struck by the hne
courage of two officers he wired Lord
Kitchener: e-...,.
81 have promoted Lieutenant smith
and Captain Jones for distinguished
conduct 70 be Cap in and Major IN the
Regular Army
Lord Kitchener wired back:
"AU right. ] have promoted Corporal
Robinson 10 be Vice-Admiral.'
Which may be only War, once
pleasantly. but is there anybody else
Of whom such a story could be told or
believed? " W. =