New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-04

American precedents involves an insult
TO America.
Against President Lincolns blockade
OF the Southern Coasts, admittedly IL
legal because il was ineffective for
want Of naval power to enforce it
from the beginning. the English re-
mind us they did not protest. They
ask us 10 remember that. They think
We might, II we consider their present
blockade Illegal. initiate the federation
England then showed 20 us. II is.
suppose, for us 20 decide whether we
will he governed by the precedent we
created. Our Presidents sympathy
with Germany may lead him to initiate
Germany in her disregard Of precedents
and all existing laws which she finds
embarrassing to herself. He may think
himself bound 20 that by his repeated
declarations Of friendship and respect
for Germany and her Emperor. II does
not follow that the American people
will think so And the American peo-
pie must in the long run decide this
and many other questions which the
President has undertaken 10 decide
FOR them.
II $ characteristic Of Sir Edward
Grey that. i'm his quiet way. he has
forestalled one objection the President
was expected 70 put forward. When
The Prime Minister made his state
ment TO the House of Commons on
March l he avoided the use Of the
word blockade Unofficially We heard
in London from Washington that our
Government would ask the British Gov
eminent: "Why did you not declare
a blockade" That is the question
which the British Foreign Minister now
answers in advance in his note OF
March 10 TO the American Ambassador
Referring 10 the joint declaration by
France and England Of their purpose
10 stop supplies reaching or leaving
Germany. Sir Edward Grey says;
"For this end the British Fleet has
instituted a blockade. effectively con
trolling by cruiser Gordon all passage
10 and from Germany by sea-
A blockade and an effective blockade
is therefore now the issue with which
President Wilson has to deal.
There has been undoubtedly much
surprise and regret in England at the
view some influential American papers
have taken Of this question. The Eng
lish accept it more in sorrow than IN
anger. They do not recriminate. They
GO not sulk. They point out. as | said
above. that they think they have Amer
lean presidents TO go by. But they are
more and more puzzled by some of the
incidents which spring out Of the "neu-
tralitv" views Of Dr.. Wilson.
The case OF the William 7. Frye is
one Here is an American ship lie
caIlv sent to the bottom with her cargo
Of wheat by the Eitel Friedrich. The
latter takes refuge in an American
port. She claims the right TO remain
for repairs. The claim is granted, and
not only granted. but the President,
the cable tells US. has fixed the term
Of the delay and forbidden the length
Of the respite to be made known. Why?
The natural inference is that the Pres
ldert desires to make It easier for the
Eitel Friedrich TO escape when her time
is up. He adds, beyond doubt, to the
difficulties Of the British cruisers
which await her coming out. Again an
act of which the effect, whatever the
intent. is TO make his neutrality"
benevolent 90 Germany.
Next comes the story that the Ger
man captain Of the Eitel Friedrich was
invited TO witness the launch Of the
new American Dreadnought Pennsyl-
vania. and was present in full uniform
i'm the naval stand with Mr. Daniels
Is it the sinking Of an American ship
which entities him TO this courtesy? So
far as we know here. that shameless
and lawless act has never been apollo
gized for by Germany, nor any repara-
ton of any kind offered. We have
been told it will be. We have not been
told it has been. And Captain Thier-
ichens meantime appears to be the
guest of the American Government. or
perhaps only Of the Secretary Of the
Navy. Yet the outrage of which he is
the guilty author is sternly condemned
by the American people. Who. then,
rules in America the people or their
servants in the White House? The
English stand amazed at these per
formances.
As have referred to the want Of
provision in the Government. / will
add that their present position offers
the strongest proof of it. They have
done an admirable and necessary thing
in taking power to control such indus
tries Of this country as are capable of
being used for munitions of war and
for other things wanted in wal. But
the question presses, Why did they not
do il months ago
They have undertaken 10 dea' with
the Labor question; again late and
again without having thought out the
methods by which they can enforce
obedience 10 their rule Lord Kitchener
has uttered this week. not for the first
time. a grave warning as to the need