New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-29
BLUNDERS OF THE BRITISH LIBERALS
Review of English Recent The Spectacular Game
for Which Britain Is Paying Now.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The pacific spirit of brotherly love
and the Tolstoyan doctrine of non-resistance
first captivated the Imagination OF the bulk
Of the British people when the Gar launched
his rescrpt in 1898. While the simple
minded Of most countries revealed in ecstatic
transports Of joyful delirum, the farther
seeing officials and ministers Of the various
governments eyed the Cars peaceful bomb
she'll with mixed feelings OF suspicion and
amusement So, also, did the British Con
servative) government Of the day, under Lord
Salisbury. who united in himself the offices
OF Prime Minister and Secretary Of State for
Foreign Affairs.
| For long time there were no replies to
the Petersburg observation-disclosures OF the
big powers waiting for the other TO apply
first. and the smaller states waiting for the
former TO give a lead. Finally, Great Brit
ain nibbled, and the others followed SUIT
England was honestly disposed TO accept the
nrinciple OF limitation of ornaments, for
sinple reason: She was az the time supreme
on the water; if the others limited their
/
same and still be mistress Of the seas. On
the other hand, she was no competitor 70 any
country in the world as regarded military
or land forces. In the autumn Of 1899 the
peace" delegates duly met at The Hague
| They shook hands said nice things TO each
other, and then sat down TO consider
new rules Of wsrfarel The Limitation ques-
. hut ,,icLi l,.
tacit consent, for all those present--except-
ing the Chinese delegate, who didn't under
stand a single word-realized that the whole
thing was an utter impossbility. And they
were right. II is the first duty of every gov
eminent to take whatever steps they may
deem necessary for the defence OF their coun-
try. SO the conference framed a few new
rules for conducting war; these were duly
signed. and the delegates went home 70 re
| lieve the severe strain imposed upon their
cachinnatory muscles by necessary suppress
sion.
The Liberal, Labor and Nonconformist
press in Great Britain shreked with joy over
the huge Success" of the Peace Conference,
so mighty is the power of selfdelusion in
otherwise sensible people. 1t is just possible
that much OF this enthusiasm may have evap-
Grated during the past fourteen months. In
any case, the peace" idea had come TO stay
and exert its baneful influence over British
politics. Within a few weeks Great Britain
was at war with the two Boer republics
Then the world witnessed a strange sight
While the government was strainng every
nerve 20 carry a stubbornly contested war 20
successful issue, the great Liberal party
the peace -at-any-price party-hung on TO the
governments coattails and hampered their
movements by every shifty dodge known as
parliamentary tactics" They encouraged
the enemy in every way; openly and secretly
re joiced over British reyerses, and exhibited
a most unnatural delight in spreading stories
Of British atrocities" The most violent Of
these ant-British agitators was Mr.. Lloyd
George until recently Chancellor of the Ex-
c. equer and now Minister OF Munitions. He
was then an unknown demagogue, a little
Welsh solicitor with a fiery tongue. The
world was his oyster, and with his tongue
he opened II. He is now drawing $4,000
year and has become quite respectable
Conservative. The war was Numbered and
muddled through for three years. from 1899
TO 1902. Driven 20 desperation by the Opposi-
tion. the government appealed to the country
in 1900. and were returned with an over
whelming majority TO carry the war through.
Every measure that the government under
took. whether good. bad or Indifferent, was
howled down by the other side.
Such Is party politics, the spectacular game
for which Great Britain is paying now in
blood and treasure. The average "lay mem
Der" is just a professional politician. an
opportunist and time server whose contribu-
ton to the state is destructive con-
structive -eriticism. He has no responsible
| ity, and what he says or does in the Lesis-