New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-01

To the Editor o. The Tribune.
SIR: IF Colonel George Harvey wanted 20
start something" when ne wrote England
To-day" for The North American ReTie",
he must be congratulating himself on his
success Wherever men 10 congreGate TO
discuss the position of the United States.
present and future. in the affairs of the
world the mention OF some point or othef
m Colonel Harveys article Gems 70 have
become inevitable
Unfortunately. the voice of competent
Erelishmea e. Tot CROUCH heard in conhr-
matior or refutation Of the colonel. \ week
ago. however one of the m rnng papers
printed q letter from an Engl.shman whose
oDiaion differed greatly from that of Colonel
Harvey. and who expressed himself with
reasoned calmness that carried conviction
and mus. nave del ghtcd MAN. OF us VINO
consider good viii between American aao
England essential for the good Of both cour-
uics.
A Jew days ago had occasion 20 hear tae
.icws OF Lord Aberdeen. former rccroy OF
ireland. ON Anelo-Amefican relations
sentence from the much discussed article
had been quoted:
"Nc outcome OF this war could be more
calamitous TO civilization than possible
enhancement through misunderstanding o.
The words are put into the mouth OF
Tory editor and are supposedly spoken AZ
British dinner table. Lord Aberdeen was
q hod whether he agreed May ! venture 10
quote his answer and his arguments as faith
fully as nay memory permits:
81 have rcad and admired Colonel par-
yey's able article but T thinl +. -houid be
road with knowledge and insight 20 escape
possible Interpretations.
conversations such n the one there re
corded take place every day in England. They
are friendly conversations. held in a friendly
spirit among people who belong 20 the same
race. Americans and Britishers. l. they
roach tho pitch Of a heated discussion they
are ncvcrt' eless no more md no less than
famHy disagreement. without any sinister
meaning whatever.
"FuaGancrtaIly America and Britishers
are blood relations and what is more. they
arc friends That very precious fact should
rover be forgotten here or in England. and
am glad to find that it very rarely is. From
time 20 time side issues have clouded or-l
fun damental friendship In the eyes OF the
casual observer but such moments have
been isolated aud of a superficial character.
For our common good they should not now
be permitted to assume any more serious
proportions
II was suggested that perhaps Colonel
Harveys impressions of the feeling i'm Eng
and toward America were not conclusive. as
hia visit abroad was short one and his sat
sfaction AZ being received there by titled
families might easily have clouded his vision
somewhat
One gentleman. who felt particularly
strongly on the matter, said that even II
Colonel lIarvey's impressions were correct.
10 was unfair to relate Them be did. He
likoncd the bclligerent countries to sick
rooms whore naturally there is a high ner-
vous tension, and he asserted that to report
the words Of beligerents without fully ex-
planning the mental conditions under which
they were spoken was as mischevous as TO
carry a sick mans fevered talk about his
noiehbor TO the house across the street.
But Lord Aberdeen remained gentle tow
ard the author under attack:
As ] remember Colonel Harveys article.
IT. seems to me that the author has very
clear understanding Of the feeling i'm Eng
land toward America. Perhaps he did not
express himself plainly enough. II indeed he
created the notion that we in England DO
not feel friendship for you. Perhaps, n
you do not know our dinner table converse
tons Of these months. you cannot detect the
warmth Of the spirit behind the printed
word That is most regrettable. for the
writings of a man like Colonel Harvey have
equal weight to work harm or good and
rome would regret more than the colonel
himself II they we're to work harm in this
particular instance.
"ls it not latent. however that If CONVEX
satcns like those synthesized by Colonel