Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-10
WHAT ENGLAND THINKS OF WILSON
Against President Place to Belief Tha
He Is the Spokesman of the American People-Attude
of This Country Better Understood
By GILBERT VIVIAN sELDEs


LONDON. oct. 24.--what does Europe
think Of America? The answer Is that
Europe doesn't think of the United States.
There is no occasion for surprise or dis
appointment at that answer. Most of
Europe is engaged in an affair which we
have decided is not necessarily our affair.
The Entente knows that in all chance Ger.
many will not make another break. The
United States is not coming In. Why worry
about the United States?
About a week before the rJ-53 appeared
off Nantucket Lighthouse asked the man.
ager Of a. daily paper In London why there
was so little American news in the press.
It happens that that manager is an Ameri-
can himself, and his answer was not preju-
diced, but 1t was sharp.
my dear sir" he said, I'VE are inter-
ested in Greece and Sweden. We are not
interested in the United States"
asked him II that wasn't rather
pity. He thought VI was But you see,
we are at war. We interest ourselves in
everything that may help in the war. We
do not think America may help"
SO / went elsewhere and asked II the
United States had a friend anywhere in
the world. For nearly year and half
1 had been persuaded that the answer was
no. And find that the answer is yes and
no, which is considerable Improvement The
United States as nation is being criti-
cized in Europe far more today than Il was
a year ago-when Europeans stop to think
or talk about the country at all. But II
has not forfeited the respect of the world
by any means While a presidential cam
paign is going on this is a political ques-
ton. but Epglishmen and Frenchmen to
whom i have spoken of this aspect of the
matter have been quite frank In saying
that IL is absurd.
'Sro re-elect n President or 20 elect a new
President on the strength OF the passions
Of a continent at war" they have said. I'm
so many words. SIS folly. OF course II
the United States is going TO trade with
and live with the nations Of the world
| after the war, she ought TO care what they
think. But she oughtnt 10 care enough 10
| interfere with what she herself thinks"
Pro-wilson or anti-Wison, the investi-
| gator OF popular opinion and OF intelligent
opinion In England and France is certain
| to be disappointed
Wilson and Belgium
The first fact is Belgium. 'grhe civilized
world will never forgive President Wilson
said a sober and thoughtful business man,
"for having betrayed the United States
| when he did not protest against the VIOLA
| tion OF Belgian neutrality" And this opin-
ion is perhaps the most widespread, bar
| one, in both England and France and In the
| whole British empire. In England par
ticularly the impression stlll holds that the
UnSted States pledged herself 20 protest
| hEhhlht hho Niolalioh VI treaty IAbhto ~
| Europe
II never knew that the United States
| didn't sign The Hague conventions in the
| same way as the other countries ala"
| have been told by more thap one of those
who feel bitterly about the United States
| But apart from that many Englishmen and
| Frenchmen feel that, traditions or no ira
| ditions, the President did the United States
| an F"evil service" in August 1914. Until
sixSmonths ago every one felt that way
| Th6 change has come In peculiar way.
Great Britain Is now thoroughly con-
| WINGED, as far as its thoughtful men and
women are concerned that the President
| did not misrepresent the United States
/ BY a very slow process, and one which
was not cheerfully accepted. II has become
the fixed impression here that the country
as a whole. Is less interested in the cause OF
| the pledged allies than the Administration
For proof OF that one needs 10 20 bach
only 10 the fatal phrase. For the firsi
/ time since the war began the newspaper
placards Of London. on a certain day, al
/ bore the same words. For a whole day
and well into the night the same words
were hurled al the people OF London. Qnc
those words were ''roQ Proud 70 Fight =
Those words do not mean today what thss
| meant 10 England when they were spoken
| Then every one thought and said that Pres
1 idenl Cor, as they call him. Doctor) Wilson
wez 100 proud too nkht Now they ~