New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
Viscount Bryce on American
Neutrality.

NiScount Bryce mas uOIte HIS
men real service by publishing in The
London Chronicle" an article dealing
Justly and alphabetically with the ell
forts Of this country to live up TO us
obligations as a neutral. British opinion
has been not little warped by criticism
OF the United States such as appeared In
a recent notable article in 1.-The Spec
.otor~ That article was permeated with
the idea that the American government
was sacrificing all the higher Ideals OF
international morality 20 a contemplate
policy Of self-interest, LowelFs mdig-
nant protest in Jonathan TO John
against Great Britain's self-seeking attl-
tude in the Civil War was cited as just-
fying British disappointment now at the
failure of the United States 70 protest
at the wreckage made Of the Hague
treaties.
"The Spectator" urged on US a policy
of knight errantry. 1t wanted us to rise
70 heights of idealism hitherto unat-
tanned IN the conduct Of international re-
Istions. 1t wanted US 10 put the mere
convention of the solidarity Of interna-
tional interests before our own clearly
defined national interests. This over
sentimental view reflected unjustly on
the United States, and it also tended to
excite popular feeling in Great Britain
which could not but hamper the efforts
Of the British government to deal intelli-
gently with the facts before 1t.
It is gratifying to find Viscount Bryce
discarding the Characterization OF The
Spectator" and measuring the situation
in which the United States finds itself
much as we measure it. No other British
subject can speak on American affairs
with as much authority as the author
Of 1.-THE American Republic" He has
lived among US and knows our feelings
and thoughts. He sees, as even "The
Spectator" sees. that the great majority
Of Americans sympathize with the Allies.
ANY democracy must sympathize with
the coalition in Europe which is, on the
whole, fighting the battle of democracy
Where he differs from THE Spectator"
is in admitting that our government has
been justified in refusing to mix in the
European quarrel on the provocations TO
such action which have so far arisen.
There are few Americans who do not re-
sent the violation of Belgium's neutrality.
Net that neutrality was guaranteed orig
inally by a treaty among various Euro
pesn powers--a pact which imposed no
responsibility on us-and later by the
Hague neutrality convention Of l9O7-a
convention which is not binding in this
war because all Of the belligerents are
not parties TO it. The same defect In
ratification has made imperative the
other Hague conventions Of 1907, de-
signed TO mitigate the barbarities of war
fare. That they have been trampled
under foot is, as Viscount Bryce says, "a
sad setback in human progress But ne
himself is too sound a publicist to hold
that the wrecking of the Hague treaties
ever imposed on the United States the
duty Of intervention, by protest or other
wise. TO restore their effectiveness.
Further, the efforts Of the United
States TO secure the broadest possible
recognition of neutral rights on the high
seas have excited criticism both in Great
Britain and in Germany. 1t is annoying
y to belligerents TO have their military
policies challenged by neutrals. The neu-
trails are thinking only Of dollars, it is
said, while the belligerents have every
thing-honor, prestige and even ma
tional existence-at stake.
Yet II is clear that in trying to pre-
serve neutral rights in this crisis the
United States is doing a service Of Ines
Unable value for the future. That is the
idea which The Tribune 50 strongly
Aem phasized day before yesterday. Wis
scount Bryce is broadminded enough TO
understand and accept this genuinely
American point of view. He says:
The United States is the greatest OF the
neutral powers-the administration might
conceive that many questions Will arise dur
ing the war in which the rights Of all
neutrals would be involved, and might think
shat the authority with which the United
states can speak on such questions would
he weakened il al the outset its government
the other party TO the struggle.
That is a notable admission coming
from a subject Of belligerent power.
British understanding of the policy Of
the United States and appreciation of
..ha sincerity and farsighiedness of that