Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-26
EDITOR
EURoPE's VIEW ON AMERICAN NEU-
~. TRALITY. ..-

In the columns of recent issue of the Oh
cago Daily News is an amazing despatch frol
its London correspondent on the views of til
European nations on American neutrality. TIL
despatch, which carries unusual weight becaus
its writer, Edward Price Bell, has for year
been connected with the American legation j
England, makes the positive assertion tina
America is laying up for itself enemies on bot
sides because of its neutrality. Here is part 6
the despatch: -. ~"
Conversations with persons of force representing
the sentiments Of Great Britain, France, Russia
Italy, Germany and Austria compel the conviction
that the United States is making no real friends in
this war. On the contrary, 1t is impossible not to
that the American name is suffering and that
conceivaby the republic Is laying up grave trouble
for itself in the future. ..
THE general charge against our country is that
displaying a shameless lack of idealism,
chiyaltry, magnanimity and courage Britons
Frenchmen, Russians and Italians blame Americans
for ignoring the invasion of Belgium and the VIOLA
tions of the conventions of The Hague, and then
springing into the International arena with protest
relating exclusively to matters of trade. The argu-
ment in all these complaints is that if President
Wilson had protested against the violations of treat
les and the principles Of civilized warfare he could
have protested with vastly greater effect against the
arbitrary and possibly indefensble interference with
American cargoes
Nov il we have lost at least for the time being,
the friendly and respectful consideration Of the Allies
think it cannot possibly be said that have gained
the high opinion affection of the Teutonic en-
pires. My experience Is that influential Germans
inclined to speak of with scorn. They accuse us
of cringing to England of enduring its arrogant
monopoly of the sea- OF tolerang British control OF
cables, largely owned by Americans, and otherwise
OF showing ourselves small
Now this illustrates more than the Shavia1
principle that man can convince himself o
anything it is to his interest to believe. /
shows the unintelligent basis on which inter
national relations rest. 1t shows better ever
than the war itself the small boy morale which
sometimes governs conduct between govern
nents.
What can You say that will satisfy that at
titude of mindi What can you say to states
men who honestly believe-if they do-tha
America should spill its blood and burn it.
wealth over moral issue the right Of which il
none too clearly established. Granting every
hing about the tragedy of Belgium and thu
crime of civilization against its millions, the
guilt has not yet been irrevocably fixed OF
either sides shoulders. Certainly not SO finally
hat it would be even conceivable that any ma
ion not directly, concerned in the imbroglit
should set itself up to punish the offender.
AHu even dSSuIHlHB IHdL IL we're clcdll y
proved that the guilt is Germany's, or Eng
and's for that matter, the question of Ameri
as duty seems almost too absurdly simple to
lrgue The only thing You can say is, .It's
your quarrel, born of century of childish
pickering, and manipulation by dynasties and
money kings. It's your quarrel; fight it out
yourselves. =
And yet the persistence of reports of Euro
,ean unfriendliness makes the question q
erious one. It may have results in the future
t may not seem so absurdly simple in twenty
ears.