TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1915-03-13
Neutrality And Public Opinion.
Nadfese Nv Non. oHAHLns MAuaL, totmef Secretary o. oommetce ard
tabor Under the Naturalization u pfes fan.



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%frsponae was that she captured such
auillery Al LieRf
These arc circumstance % be cons
sidsred. and " The case q AS i now
apptars, Gcfmsny was undoubtedly
right N her suspicion and IN her de-
cislon. In any event, there IS q great
deal IN what Treyclyan said az the
time Of his resignation from the
British Cabinet at the beginning 81
the war. Il d%isapproVc as much as
any ono the breach Of Belgium neu-
traiify BY Germany, but ! insist that
If France had been guilty Of this
wrong, We would have protested in
some fashion without committing our
country TO war"
Above all, what becomes OF the
English claim that Great Britain was
induced 10 Join this war because Of
the irjustice that Germany had done
to Belgium, when Grey, on the third
OF August. ia his speech to Parlia-
mcut, said that on the day before,
namely, on the second Of August, and
before Germany had touched Belgium
he had promised France that II France
and Germany became engaged in
war, the English feet would protect
the north coast OF France with British
ships. Was that neutrality There
is no claim that this promise was
not made before Germany was guilty
of any conduct with respect to Bel
= gium.
In the same speech Grey admits
that as early as 1906 the officers of the
English and the officers Of the French
army had been communicating for
the purpose of preparing themselves
against a common enemy. Even now
IN an English magazine we may read
praise Of Churchill for having had the
foresight to have the English fleet re-
viewed as early as July (while the
German Kaiser was sailing in his
yacht in the North Seal, in order that
the feet might be ready for prompt
action when the war commenced. And
that statement finds support In the
correspondence to the New York Ma
ton. No wonder Treyelyan said
when he resigned that they had been
y assured that England was free to act,
but that they found now that she
had been committed all the time.
Are not these circumstances TO be
weighed in determining the question
of guilt or innocence Of this world
war
N is not for me to say that
this or that is true; but ! do say that
II is stated in responsible journals.
Inasmuch as we are judging men and
nations BY books and articles, it is
fair to present this side. 1t is also
fair to add that the attache OF Bel
GUM in ST. Petersburg officially re-
ported in so many words, that 1t was
obvious that the Kaiser had done
Everything within his power to prevent
the war, and that there was little
question that the war party in Russia
could not be kept in control after the
confidence had gained ground in st.
Petersburg that Great Britain would
stand behind Russia in any event.
These, too, are only circumstances,j
but why should they not be weighed
40 my mind there is strong proof
Thai the Belgian government was re-
Rponsible, and that the Belgian people
are innocent. All the sympathy that
} goes out to them they deserve. No
one on this side can do too much;
bnt, let me ask, why not other
pcoplesl Do you suppose that the
Cossacks inflicted no suffering upon
women and children in East Prus-
AsiaR Or do we fail to think about
their suffering because the English
enguage fails TO record It? Why not
ME Poles; are they guilty? They do
Not belong 10 any country. And does
by one need TO be told about their
&fcrings, with two armies marching
#oss their country as often as three
#es--and does any one raise a voice
4 hand for them? If we are TO
Weep. why not shed our tears i'm
partially?
Why not remember Finlandi a.
cisslized country with her own re-
iiRion and her own literature, de-
prived Of her constitutional inde-
pendcnee by the stroke Of the Cars
pen, and now further subjected to
wrong and ~deprivation2 Why not
%Sympathizc with that people? If you
doubt the gravity Of their case, read
the volume by Fisher, who Is an
Eualishman.
There are two other matters that
receive their coloring from the re-