Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-23

touched by the generous efforts made by
private American enterprise to relieve
their sufferings, they feel that these suf-
ferings might have been averted had
the United States government raised
its voice in timely protest against Ger
many's violation of the neutrality Of
their kingdom.
In France, the gratitude that would
otherwise be felt for all that private
American enterprise is SO generously ac-
complishing there for the relief of the
wounded, and of the other victims of the
war, is tempered by the resentment caused
by the extravaganza, not to say extortion-
ate, profits exacted by the American VEN
doris of war supplies. AS admitted in
print by the latest issue of @Greater New
York." the bulletin of the New York
Merchants Association, there have been
numerous instances of American firms
contracting to furnish France with goods
at a certain price, and then either aban-
dOning the contract in favor of newer and
better orders, or declining to fulfil it ex-
cept at an increase Of twenty or thirty
per cent in the cost. These cases, which
have been thoroughly ventilated in the
French press, have created very wide
spread impression to the effect that
Americans, in the sale of war supplies and
even of other goods, are exploiting the
sufferings and perils Of their old-time ally
for selfish monetary gain.
Then, too, France has always felt that
she has strong claim on the support Of
the United States government, in view Of
the fact that she financed the American
War of Independence with money which
has never been repaid. That President
Wilson and his administration should
have remained silent in the face of Ger
many's violation of Belgian neutrality,
q violation that enabled the Kaiser to
invade French territory at relatively
unprotected point, has been great dis
appointment in France.
Russia, in the American war Of the re-
belion, gave striking and very impor-
tant manifestation Of her friendship for
the United States by sending her feet to
New York at a critical moment. Ameri-
can popularity in Russia, however, under
went o very severe strain when President
Taft broke off treaty relations with the
Cars government, as the climax of the
controversy over Muscovite passport reg
ulations. Moreover, the scanty conf
dence manifested here by financiers, mer-
chants, and manufacturers in Russia's >
financial credit and general economic and
political stability, has been very humiliat-
ing to her.
Americans Popularity Increasing
in Great Britain
THE only nation with which Americans
are more popular to-day than at the be-
ginning of the war is Great Britain. Per-
haps because Britons are somewhat less
ignorant of life and conditions over here
than are the other nations of Europe, they
can make allowances for the difficulties
by which President Wilson and his adj
ministration are confronted in the great
conflagration now in progress. While they
would have liked him to act with greater
degree of vigor at the time of the German
violation of the neutrality of Belgium,
they would not wish him actively to
spouse their cause in the struggle by
joining the Powers of the Entente realiz-
ing that the United States is of far greater