The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-24
AMERICAN SYMPATHY FOR
BRITAIN.
Some Pertinent Observations by a
Very Intelligent Englishman.
From Q priUdfe Iefftr.

| NOu HNVS always k1OWn SUCH apDIeCld-
ton of the Anglo-Saxon Ideal that I
never had the slightest apprehension
that your sympathy for us in his ire
mendous AtrugEle was on the wane.
Moreover. your hands are 80 occupied
by matters Of the greatest moment that
II would have been p~resumptuous on
my part to expec you TO take time to
write TO me. II was all the more agree
able and comforting, therefore,. to read
the sympathetic words you have been so
kind as to write.
II is unfortunate that misunde stan
ings over this terrible war have arisen
between nations n are 80 closely akin.
not 80 much now. perhaps, In race as In
political instinct IN sentiment. as the
American and British peoples. That the
Issues raised by the conflict should be
viewed from n different angle and IN dir
ferent perspective Is inevitable. What
has. however, perplexed and profoundly
disappointed the many friends OF
America in this country Is the peculiar
attitude Of our Government. President
Wilson, as II seems to us. fell into
The fundamental error of regarding
neutrality as a virtue and not what II
Ia In reality. n condition dictated by
political expedience. He was so care
full not to utter n word that might he
construed as favoring one side or the
other in this awful struggle In Europe
that he failed TO give any lea whatever
to the people whose chosen leader and
mouthpiece he was. II il not at all sur
prising. therefore. that the Teutonic eie-
ments OF the American population were
encouraged to consller themselves free
to support ~Germany's policy OF fright
fulness," which at the outset had been
tacltly condoned by the chief OF state,
and that this support dcgenerated into
the baleful acts which ave been 80
severely condemned in the recent Presi-
Genital message. No doubt Mr.. wilson
meant well. but no good man can remain
neutral IN the presence OF fagrant wrong
doing. and his changed attitude is no
doubt due to the conviction that evil
cannot be averted by silence. by fine
words or by i~naction under the guise OF
neutrality.
Do not imagine that our people ex-
pected or desired the thited states 70
enter the fray on our s.dc. Apart from
the irresponsible uttcrance. OF a Few
hotheads there Ia nobody OF opinion IN
this country who at this stage OF the
long drawn out agony would view such
a prospect with other feelings than as
may. We are not unmindfui OF the mag
nihcert service rendered by the Ameri-
can people in feeding the carving pop
ulation of Belgium. and we are full of
gratitude for the splendid work that has
been Zone by Your Ambassador and
those who nave worked IN conjunction
with him in securing an amelioration OF
the horrible conditions to which British
captives were subjected IN Germany
These works OF mercy woul1 necessarily
cease K the United States took mp arms
against the Contra European Powers
Hut II Is surely not expecting too much
at a time when Great britain and hei
allies are waging "A life and dealt
struggle for democracy against the SOW
ereignty of the most awful military des'
po,ism the word has ever witnessed
that you- Government should refrain
from marrying US with complaints as u
alleged technical ,nstngenents of inter
national law. We remember that the
United States Government showed nc
sollci,ude for the victims Of broker trea'
ties and the most fragrant violations OF
laws she had herself assisted 20 franz
until the interests OF her own citizeu,
were affected. Then. il seemed to US. tn,
tone OF the note to Great Britain regard
ing the stoppage Of American goods dies.
lned Tor Germany vas, with eNtraordl
nary lack OF perspe tive. as severe as. Il
not more so than. the protests against III
cailous murder of Americans by German
submarines. Can you wonder then tina
many OF our people felt eXasperated an(
exclaimed bitterly .ha, human life an,
liberty were regarded by the Unite
States as OF less consequence than ~
almighty dollar? The heart alon'
kuoweth It's own bitterness" and. as YOU
generously admit. when people are Il
dire agony they arr not wholly rational
THIS bitterness ~ not ~assuagcd 10y tn
thought that while Europe IL SUFFERING
Aiuerioi is prospecting exceedingly ma
the comparative immunity from furthe
outrages on the high seas and the safet!
$40 H. d.