Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-09-21
BRITISH DIPLOMACY
OR LACK OF It BLAMED
Sir Edward Grey Said to Have
Kept From Public Ger
many's Offer Of Peace

London. Sept. le.-(By mail to New
York TO escape censorship. Now that
Great Britain is engaged in war, it un-
dOubtedly would be difficult, II not inn
possible, to find an Englishman who
does not want his country S side to win,
right or wrong.
There are those, however. who do
think II is wrong. aud who blame very
bitterly certain higa government Off
cials, whom they accuse Of involving
the nation in the conflict.
John Burns and Lord Morley. who re-
signed from the British cabinet as a
protest against their government 5 ac-
tion, are. Of course, of this number
Burns felt so strongly on the subject
that, though a poor man, he gave up a
post whiea paid him $4,000 annually
Shaw Against War
Bernard Shaw is another who has in.
weighed against his country's partieipa
tion in the struggle, and Keir Hardit
has denounced il emphatically.
Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey
is the man most frequently criticized
for his management on the international
negotiations which preceded the out
break of hOstilities. The most moderate
of his opponents express the opinion
that his alleged diplomatic laundering
was responsible for the catastrophe
watch overlook the country. The more
radical accuse him Of suppressing facts
which the country ought TO have con.
eerning his conversations with the Ger
man ambassador.
Asked in the house of commons re-
Gently il Germany did not promise tC
respect France territorial integrity il
Great Britain would keep ont of the
fight, Sir Edward replied that such 3
suggestion was indeed made, but th,
Germans refused to accompany then
pledge vita an assurance that integrity
OF the French colonies also would b,
respected
Germany's Peace Terms
Ii was Germany, he added, which be
ban the war.
For a time this silenced criticism.
Now, however it is asserted tha
while the foreign secretary's Statement
was true as far as it went, its autho
suppressed what is asserted to be tn,
fact the kaiser 5 ambassador sub
sequently asked him 10 outline Grea
Britain 5 own terms for remaining neu
tral, intimating that Germany might
after all, accede to the demand tha
the integrity both of France and o
French colonies be respected.
Whether or not this ought 10 hav,
been considered enough 10 satisfy tn
British, the anti-militarists assert tina
his suppression of 50 important a piee,
of information. assuming il 10 be cor
rect, naturally LAYS Sr Edward open :,
the suspicion of having dealt disinge
nuOusly with his countrymen IN othe
matters as we'll
Opponents OF the war have been prct
~ effectively kept under thus far bl
the overwhelming majority agains
them, but il was understood that wheI
parliament meets again in October al
attempt will be made TO 20 more deeply
into the foreign Offices handling Of
the transactions preceding the fina
break with Germany.
lie Is a Bungler
In connection vita comment relativ,
to Sir Edward 5 management of reeen
European international affairs. his enc
mics have been recalling the fact tha
he was a strong supporter OF Sir Lione
Garden at a time when the latter, a
British minister to Mexico. threatene,
seriously TO strain relations with "a,
United States by the backing he CAV,
20 Dictator Huerta, presumably on se
count of the dictatOr's friendliness {,
the British Pearson oil interests. No
would Sir Lionel have modified his atti
tude, Il has been asserted, had no
Premier Asquith. alarmed by the feeling
the foreign offices doing was stirring
lup in the United States, publicly re
lpudiatcd its poley--Or rather, declare,
that what was known 10 be lis pole,
was not its policy-ani compelled tn
adoption Of different one.
Incidental to the prospective rakinl
over Of Sir Edward : foreign offic
methods. il was intimated that eertaii
members OF parliament had questions q
ask concerning toe published ,.atemen
that native troops were being or ha'
been brought from India to help the al
lies in France. Sat India 5 expense.
Those who find fault with tbs aetio
express the opiaion that the people o
India have no personal interest what
ever in the present European struggl,
aud that IL is outrageous TO burae
them vita any part OF the expense Of Il