Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-26
EDITOR
EURoPE's VIEW ON AMERICAN NEU-
~:.. TRALITY. /

In the columns of a recent issue of the Oh
eago Daily News is an amazing despatch frol
its London correspondent on the views of til
European nations on American neutrality TIL
despatch, which carries unusual weight becaus
its writer, Edward Price Bell, has for year
been connected with the American legation j
England, makes the positive assertion tina
America is laying up for itself enemies on bot
sides because of its neutrality. Here is part O
the despatch: ::-.... ~
Conversations with persons of force representing
the sentiments of Great Britain, France, Russia,
Italy, Germany and Austria compel the conviction
that the United States is making real friends in
this war On the contrary, it is impossible not to
see that the American name Is suffering and that
conceivably the republic is laying up grave trouble
for itself in the future.
we are displaying shameless lack of idealism,
chivaltry magnaninity and courage. Britons,
Frenchmen Russians and Italians blame Americans
for ignoring the invasion Of Belgium and the viola
tons Of the conventions Of The Hague, and then
sprnging into the international with protest
relating exclusively to matters of trade The argu-
ment in all these complaints is that if President
Wilson had protested against the violations of treat
les and the principles of civilized warfare he could
have protested with vastly greater effect against the
arbitrary and possibly ndefensibe interference with
American cargoes.
W,
the friendly and respectful consideration of the Allies
think it cannot possibly be said that have gained
the high opinion or affection of the Teutonic en-
pires My experience is that influential Germans
inclined to speak OF with scorn. They accuse us
Of cringng to England, of enduring its arrogant
monopoly of the sea- of toerating British control of
cables, largely owned by Americans, and otherwise
of showing ourselves small
Now this illustrates more than the Shavia1
principle that a man can convince himself Of
Il. r
hows the unintelligent basis on which inter
rational relations rest. It shows better ever
han the war itself the small boy morale which
ometimes governs conduct between govern
nents.
What can you say that will satisfy that at
itude Of minds What can You say to states
men who honestly believe-if they do-that
America should spill its blood and burn Its
wealth over moral issue the right of which is
lone too clearly established. Granting every
hing about the tragedy of Belgium and the
rime of civilization against its millions, the
,uilt has not yet been irrevocably fixed on
ither side's shoulders. Certainly not so finally
hat it would be even conceivable that any ma
ion not directly concerned in the imbroglio
hould set itself up to punish the offender.
And even assuming that it were clearly
royed that the guilt is Germany's, or Eng
and's for that matter, the question of Ameri-
as duty seems almost too absurdly simple to
rgue. The only thing you can say is, It's
our quarrel, born of century of childish
and manipulation by dy9asties and
loney kings. rs your quarrel; fight it out
ourselves. -
And yet the persistence of reports of Euro
can unfriendliness makes the question a
erious one. 1t may have results in the future.
may not seem so absurdly simple in twenty
ears.