Evening star., 1915-03-28
B. Herman Ridder Says Pres
ent International Law Was
Written by EngIishmen.
SAYS U. S. NEUTRALITY
is LEGAL, BUT NOT FAIR
Policy Offends 20,000,C10 American
Citizens, He Declares, in Ad-
dress at Press Club.

3. Herman Ridder, son of the publish
er of the Staats-Zeitung and a student
of European conditions. took the side
of the Germans and the German
Americans in an address at the Ma
tional Press Club last night explain
ing his idea of the American 1nde-
pendence League and bitterly CRITICS.
ing the present neutrality policy OF
this nation, which permits the Shipment
of arms to the allies in Europe. Mr..
Ridder said that the neutrality of this
country is legal, perhaps, but that 1t
offends twenty million citizens of the
United States. He also said that pres
ent interna tional law has been written
for the most part by English diplomats,
and that the entire world-condition
had been built up craftily by English
statesmen 50 that the advantage in
public opinion and diplomatic results
is all on the English side.
Mr.. Ridder frankly confessed to have
been talking to audiences in New
England which were absolute zero in
their pro-Gernan feelings. and that
he knew nothing about the feelings of
the members OF the Press Club, who
composed his audience, and who quiz
zed him on delicate international
Asks for Real Neutrality"
II want to say that pro-German
Americanism means simply clinging to
the ideals of the country. which are
good and beautiful, principally in
music and art. And yet German
Americans have been termed 'hyphe-
mated Americans because they object
ed to a traffic in arms and wanted a
real neutrality. A European war, OF
necessity, will divide all America. and
any neutrality which offends large
portion of American citizens, though
ba sed on law, is not based on funda-
mental human nature. For all future
wars, and who is there that believes
there will be none, we must ADOPT
policy which will insure neutrality
which will not increase the heartburn
ings OF SO many Americans
"If the general American puollc un-
derstood this viewpoint of the pro-Ger.
man Americans, and the human spirit
behind it. we would come nearer ~
lens The German American IS an
ideal citizen, but has never entered
politics, and this is best illustrated IN
the town of Hoboken. There are 5o,ooo
people there OF these t9,999 are Ger
mans. and one is an Irishman, and he
is the mayor.
Mr.. Ridder explained that because the
German an-American has no representa-
tion in politics, in the Congress, the
cabinet or any particular place In the
national government anywhere, the
American independence League was
founded "and has been treated Win
the greatest misunderstanding ne
said the leagues object is to WORK TOT
"a neutrality which Will be an ac'ua'
neutrality and not fictitious one
international law was written os
England" he explained. and was
framed by Europeans, ana does no.
take our special conditions INTO con-
siderat ton.
what were the underlying causes
Of the war;"
necessarily brief outline of interna-
tional politics in the Balkan states.
going back to 1873, when Austria was
given Bosnia and Herzegovina atter
the general slicing up of Europe.
Europe thought Austria had been
handed a lemon" Mr.. Ridder said. ''as
those two provinces were very unde-
sira ble but Austria has spent many
millions since then and has developed
the two provinces into profitable terri
tory" He described the diplomatic
moves made between the greater couh-
tries of Europe, Win RuSSla ledHlus
toward the Balkans for extensions.
after the czar had left the Pacific. The
diplomatic situation became such that
after each victory on the cnessboard.
no matter how slight, armaments all
over Europe became greater and war
was inevitable.
Calls Grey Master Diplomat
But most German diplomats We're
seriously fooled he said. FOR they did
not believe England would go into
war
He gave great praise for Sir Edward
Grey as a master diplomat. He also
said he does not believe Italy would go
into the war. but admitted that If its
army should take the field against Aus
tria the latter country would have a
very serious time of it.
The feeling in Italy against Austria
is bitter. but it is not SO against Ger
many. and I believe if Italy should so
to war it would be against Austria
only"
In response to further questions. MIR.
Ridder expressed the belief that Eng
land had been committed to the war
and would have entered it even il the
Germans had not invaded Belgium.
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