Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-23
RsI CLAN WOMAN
RESENTS PLAN TO BUY
BACK HER COUNTRY
Madame Albert Joseph
conroyd, Wife of Former
Louvain Professor,
Thinks Plan Proposed by
John Wanamaker Unwise


John Wanamaker Unwise
proposal that the United States
seieium indefinitely the money with
RI. N buy" her freedom from Ger
made last night by John wana-
at meeting OF the Philadelphia
~ NJ the National Security League,
sccording to Madame Albert Joseph
s,oyd, wife of Professor conroyd. of
tr,lversity of Pennsylvania, too inn
,,,cai for serious consideration and
aposes by it's very nature the ulti-
o victory Of the Germans.
: ,.dame Conroyd, with her husband,
u now in New York, and her chill
IL. have recently come to this country,
..y having had her home in Louvain,
a.,elum, burned to the ground, and her
..,e on which II stood converted into
aaaleground by the Germans. Pro-
e.sor couroyd was a member Of the
,.svaln University faculty
I. Madame Conroyd's opinion, to put
E,o the hands of Belgium's most hated
,,smy a vast sum, would be most un-
~ plan and one which II is doubtful
Ass4he unfortunate little country herself
4 -.ss he willing to see materialize.
aiinderstand" she said. emphatically,
- IN Belgium could not begin TO ex-
,.rss our deep gratitude for all America
~ done for us, and this offer is but
.solher proof of the great generosity
-hlch the United States has shown to us.
eBut Germany has not yet annexed Bel
.i,n, We do not belong to her. She is
fhldlng us against our will and intoler-
~ though the situation Is, to speak Of
8avIne' our freedom from her either now
!. at some later time is to admit that
a,rnan Is going to hold us indefinitely.
~ pay Germany such a huge sum, to
sos 100000, 100000 into the hands of our
,eemy would be a most dangerous thing
q 40. 1t would anticipate a German VIC
lafv which we do not for one moment
heye will be the ultimate result of the
ssr"
ntthe words of William McComb, field
,.cretary of the National Security
league, ut takes two to make a bar
ran.", and talking about buying" Bel
rhm and then getting Germany to acqui-
ace to the sale are very different mat
ltis.
n do not believe" he said, "that Eng
and or France, after fighting this long,
Or the world at large, for that matter,
WOULD permit Germany to annex Belgium,
40 natter how long the war would have
70 be prolonged to crush Germany. l
think when Mr.. Wanamaker launched his
pfoposal last night he must have had in
mind a possible deadlock which might
I1a
nsIeum. Then 1t would be a humane
thing for, us to step in. and offer to buy
Belgium's freedom for large sum Of
money, but do not know how practical
It would be, or how such a proposition
would be regarded by other nations
The untold difficulties which would be
presented should an attempt be made
to carry out Mr.. Wanamakers s. proposal
would, in the opinion of a political
economist, who would not permit his
name to be used. make the plan too
ffnpractical to be thought of.
England would certainly have to have
tqnle say In the matter he said, "since
e violation of the Belgian neutrality
p the reason, ostensible at least that
g gave for entering the war.
laen, too, King Albert himself hight
l.sltate to accept such Il bargain. He
light make it a question of national
hnor, and consider that to accept such
i1o1er would be tacit admission of the
hlnre of his army, which has put up one
the bravest fights in history.
The suggestion put forth by Mr.. Wana-
naker is very beautiful as an ideal, but It
visionary at best. and any attempt to
al Il into practical operation would be
inolhardy"
Proceeding on the principle based on
l-loric 1act that no nation negligent
p 70 its state OF preparedness to repeI
y attack by a foreign foe has ever sur
I7ed or long endured, and maintaining
lat the military preparedness of the
United States was in a state OF inAd-
'qaacy and inefficiency, 200 PhiladeI-
alans high In the city's financial, in
astrlal, business and professional life
eEanzed last night, at the RACQUET
Aap, as a Philadelphia branch of the
eetonal Security League. The Phila-
'spnla branch viii endeavor TO organize
Nohc sentiment in this State and city
Y layor OF greater military preparedness
Aha prevail upon Pennsylvania's repre-
Hniatives in Congress to give their sup
Ftt 70 comprehensive bill designed to
lat the army and navy of the United
oiatea In condition fit to beat back
sty Invader that may attempt to strike
his country or any part OF the
american continent.
@He meeting was addressed by John
Hanamaker; S. Stanwood Menksn, pres
sent Of the New York branch OF the
eAuonal Security League and William
Necomb, field secretary OF the national
Asanlzation.
II Wanamaller laid stress upon the
fi that the United States. in enlarging
military power, would by no means
= The path OF militarism. He indl-
ssa' that this country represented
-.aething more than mere selfish inter-
that 1t represented an ideal dia-
as.fleally opposed to the ideals of mill
efsuc countries and that for the sake
mat ideal OF liberty and democracy
qountry should be prepared to resist
attempt OF a military power or mili-
autoerat to challenge those ideals
freedom and self government for
zen the United States stands.
Wanamaker deplOred the failure
ne United States to protest against
Violation OF Belgian neutrality, said
me United States should resent the
t oirered 1t in the matter OF the
Walton OF its rights In connection
submarine warfare and asserted
II necessary the United States
esela raise s1OO, 900. .000,000 and buy
"a Belgium and return it 10 its peo-
he was also in favor OF putting
As export duties on products ex-
ga from this country to Europe and
slarye out the belhgerents and
about peace.