New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-26
Clemenceau Says People
of u. S. Should Sym
pathize with England.
TRIBUNE EDITORIAL
BASIS OF ARTICLE
let Americans Search Their
Duty and Not Deceive Them
selves" Statesman Pleads.
BY FRED b. PITNEY.

Paris, Dec. Georges Clemencesu,
in his paper, "L'Homme Enchaine," has
devoted a column and a half in a
recent issue to The Tribune's editorial
of November 10, where the English Go
Wrong" He calls his article Young
America and Old Europe" Beginning
with the trial of the Hamburg -Ameri-
can Line officials in New York, he asks
what the effect of the revelation In that
trial will be on the American people.
For the answer 10 his question he
seeks The Tribune's editorial.
For the answer 10 my question each
can manufacture words TO suit him
self" he says. The difficulty, per-
haps the impossibility, is to reach the
truth at the bottom. have before me
an article of The New York Tribune OF
November 10, which seems TO me to put
forward an interesting line Of thought
in the right direction. 1t is inspired
by that matter of fact spirit which is
the triumph of the American intelli-
gence without tramplng on idealism.
IL is called Where the English Go
Wrong and since we are in the same
boat with the English. we are not less
interested than our friends across the
Channel in studying attentiyely these
propositions that have been laid before
US in a friendly spirit.
"The article in The Tribune is based
on the effects of the English blockade
on the cotton raisers OF the Southern
states, and have nothing 20 say
against it, as the cotton planters have
tne same right to consideration AS all
other men. What | wish to point out
is what The Tribune says Of American
opinion toward the war. In the begin
ming:
"The English error says The Trib-
une, is In believing that from the mo-
meat when England is engaged, as are
the United States themselves, in the
battle Of civilization. il is unjust and
unreasonable to hamper the British ef-
forts by technical discussions Of legal
rights
Problem Not Badly Put"
zone must recognize that the problem
is not badly put. Bravcly my distin-
guished confrere continues:
"It is open to discussion whether
the defeat Of Germany interests the
United States. The Tribune has always
expressed freely its opinion that the
German idea would be fatal 20 Ameri-
can civilization and ideals. We believe
that the defea. of Germany is neces-
sary if the American democracy is TO
live TO accomplish the work that is
reserved for il. But this is q personal
opinion, and is not the opinion OF the
majority of Americans or of the Amer
lean government. II, then, the English
people deceive themselves into the be-
lief that they have a right TO particu-
larly favorable treatment they are
seeking disaster, for there IS not the
slightest chance of leading American
opinion in the ensemble to that belief.
On the contrary, the government repre-
sents justly the national opinion.
"'English sh statesmen must face the
fact and not the theory of American
opinion. Il does not in the least mat
ter that the English people believe that
America should sympatnize with Eng
land and lessen the difficulties Of the
English government by liberal inter-
pretation Of international law. Per-
haps they are right, and perhaps they
are wrong. But the fact Is that they
cannot expect any such sentiment from
the American people in the present sit
uation.'
America in the Wrong.
This truth-if it is the truth, as
believe it TO be-cannot be less dis
pleasing to France than to England;
more displeasing, perhaps. to France,
since it was our hearts and our
soldiers who were, in their bad days
on the side Of the idealist Declaration
Of independence, from which has come
the question Of the cotton planters. But