Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-25
THESE ARE CRITICAL DAYS
FOR U. S., Says LANSING
Counsellor for State Department Re.
fers to Serious Problems Created
by European War.
NEUTRALITY PATH IS ROUGH
Urges American People to Avoid
Harsh Judgment and Preserve
Calmness - Defends Wilson and
Bryan Against Criticisms.

NEW YORK. February 24-Robcrt
Lansing. counsellor for tho state De-
partment. In speech nt tho annual
banquet of alumni OF Amherst College
here tonight declared these were crit
zeal days for the United States how
critical only those who are In intima IL
touch with affairs can realize" Tho
European war. he said had raised "a Sc
rics Of problems which had never be e.
fore been solved and the liability OF
error. the danger of unintentional
partially and the constant complaint
Of one or another OF the bellgcrents
makes the path Of neutrality rough and
uncertain"
Mr.. Lansing expressed disanproval
Of the suggestion that diplomatic Of
hcers be placed under civil service
rules. and defended President Wilson
and Secretary Bryan against criticism
that they failed to rctaIi. diy lomats
named by former administrations.
These diplomats could not be expected
ne said. TO support the foreign policies
OF tie present administration on men
who comprchcndcd and were In nm
patty with these policies and were en-
thus!astic In carrying them out. tho
success OF the policies depended he as
serted
Successful diplomacy requires to-
day individual initiative and sound
Judgment. as It always has. II Is the
man OF force. OF originality, of per-
sonality who becomes distinguished In
the diplomatic service.
OPPOSED TO TYING
HANDS OF PRESIDENT
When IT comes to the principal posts
abroad am strongly opposed to tying
the hands OF the President IN any way.
II wc had obtained all our ambassadors
and ministers by promotion we would
not have had such men at London AS
T. j. Phelps ana Joseph II. Choatc.
or men like Myron T IIerrick and
Brand Whi,lOck. Such men. ineAperi-
'uCed in diplomatic practice. but
equipped with qualities which com
naud respect and achicv. success. are
the ones who HAY" brought lustre TO
American diplomacy.
Diplomacy to-day is wrestling with
novel problems. to which II must apply
natural Justice and practical common
sense Neutral nations have to meet "A
series OF problems which have never
been solved The liability OF error.
the danger OF unintcntional partiality
and the constant complaint Of one or
another Of the bciligcrcnts make the
path o, neutrality rough and unccr-
tain.
Things have TO be done. not studied
these days. The motto. DO II now is
no, a piece OF advice In the Department
81 State; ~ Is a command. \ question
which Is week old is ancient history.
Considering the customary slow and
diEniNed wayH OF diplomacy this touch
ana go method Of doing business was n
decided Innovation and compelled a
radical change In the machinery to
which our foreign affairs are con-
Quoted.
These are critical days for OUR coun-
try. how critical only those who arc in
intimate touch with affairs can fully
realize. II !s time for serious thought,
q time OF anxiety.
URGED TO AVOID
HARSH JUDGMENT
ITO day. when nations are swaycd
with unreasonable passion, when preju-
dice blinds them, when they see red
when they misjudgc their friends as
well AS their foes. is the time for MS to
avoid harsh Judgment. to preserve
calmncss in dealing with them, and to
curb the natural resentment which
arises when our acts arc nisintcrpreted
and "" are charged with wrong motives
and purposes"
American citizens. he concluded
could not be too thankful that they
had 4 President whom We can trust
10 deal with the momcntous and DIFF
'icult problems OF the hour with
wisdom. Justice and patience. having
equal regard for all and favor toward
none. uniniuenccd by popular clanor
answering in his determination to
maintain the strict neutrality which
this government has preserved
throughout the war"