New-York tribune., 1914-11-29
Copyright. 1914. by @. W, smsnsy)

slider American interests and American
suscoptihilitios. They have yielded to
u.s. cut Of friendship, on points where
they would have yielded TO no other
nation The British Ambassador in
Washington, Sir Cecil Spring Rice, is
not only diplomatist of surprising
ability. but a friend, with an une-
qualed knowledge Of America. All
these influences make for harmony and
concilation But am bound to say it
is beginning 20 be thought here that
Sir Edward Grey goes too far and con-
cedes too much; and that certain in
terests in America demand too much.
That is a danger. Concession which
approaches the point Of surrender or
demands which have an air of eXaction
can be of no benefit 20 either country.
They alike tend TO imperil friendly re-
lations.
The President and Belgium.
suppose nothing shocked Europe so
much as our Presidents treatment of
Belgium. lie waits, and asks US to
wait. till the end of the war before he
can make up his mind, OF would allow
US 20 make up ours on the scrap OF
paper" on treaty breaking by Ger
many. on the whole German crime
against Belgium, on Terremond, on
Louvain and all the rest. The facts are
not disputed. Ii is not denied that Ger
many violated her treaty obligations
even BenstorN, Dernburg q Co. do
not deny that. 1t is not denied that
Belgium has been savagely laid waste.
The crime is open, fragrant, insoiently
and defantly avowed by Germany her
self. But even with the confession of
the criminal staring her in the face
our professor President sits frozen and
silent on his judicial bench.
Mr.. Robert Bacons Protest.
We may be thankful to Mr.. Robert
Bacon for his declaration that il is the
solemn duty Of the United States TO
protest TO Germany against her viola
tion OF the neutrality Of Belgium, since
in so doing she broke a treaty with
the United States; treaty embodied
in the Articles of the Second Hague
Conference, which she signed. Mr..
Bacon knows what he is talking about:
He has been Secretary of State, and a
good one He has been our Ambassa-
dor to France, and a good one. And
he spoke, ! hope and believe, for the
American people, when he expressed
his opinion that the policy of the Pres
lOent IS as weak as IL is QnWlSe.
If recent cable dispatches may be
trusted, the elections Of Tuesday were
the real voice of the people. We have
all 'ong been told that. in New York
and elsewhere, the battle has been
fought on national and international
issues. The greatest Of all these is
sues is the position of the United
States with reference TO the war The
President is on one side. The people
are on the other. And on Tuesday
they delivered judgment.
do net say that the President is
consciously pro-German ! do not know
whether he is or not. What do say is
that he, with all his self-righteousness
lays himself open to that suspicion. He
has issued these three orders-fOr his
manifesto is an order 10 the American
nation-of which the effect is in each
case TO turn his neutrality into a neu-
trality benevolent TO Germany. If he
does not know that, he is not fit to be
President. If he does know it, he is
not fit TO be President. He is resist
ing the declared will of the American
people. G. ". 5.