The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-23

and high minded man. ] have no hes.-
tation in admitting that he probaby
is far better verscd than ] was in the
mirutian OF International law. But
study Of his course during this general
EUROPEAN war wuiid lead M to he
l.cve that had he been placed az | was
placed he scarcely would have acted
as | did N behalf OF a friendly country
paced as you were placed.
Here in England We a., think the
German diplomats have been fooling
him, or. as we say. 'Gammor!ng' him.
/, may be that We fail. however. to
take sufficiently full account Of the
large element of German origin blood
which must influence your population.
and which he. as President, u rep
resent. OF course. az carefully as he
represents any other element.
But there. again. arises a grave
question. Ia he. az President. bound
or even authorized 10 consider the sem
s,bilities OF any group among your
people TO the point Of sacrificing the
best interests OF the whole?
III public opinion here judged YOU"
country wholly by the procedure of
is President ! fear It would Judge YOU
harshiy. but the American press and
the public u~ttaranceS of your impor-
tani. thinking men have done much %
ave the situation.
If no voice bat that 81 Your Govern
inent had beer heard upon this side ~
the ocean | Goa't know what We could
have thought. IL is fortunate for the
friendship between your country and
my " that you ave grea, newspa-
contribute to them.
"Men Ike President Emeritus Eliot
Of Harvard. Prof. Church and a score
Of others have lone much 10 keep our
friendship and our admiration :or you
glowing"
There is another pom; | wish to
make Lord Crorner Went on vita
some emphasis. II hope II believe
that l. best minds in ,he united
States are sure thai the alliance for
this wa which exists between Gree.
4, Britain and Japan could mean nothins
whatsoever in the case OF war lr,wceu
your county and Japan, a a NG'ch.
by the way, ! am Absolutely certain
never will occur"
Are YOU willing 10 cNprc~s your
views upon the questions Of American
procedure with regard 20 tie British
blockade Of German ports / asked.
NO, the blockade is too purely a
legal question for me 10 discuss" was
Lord Cromer's nswtr but thtrr
cannot be the slightest douD, Of our
necessities and duties in tho case. We
nust squeeze the Germans TO death.
What Germany calls the freedom
~ the seas would be fatal to the
worlds best interests. 10 yours us well
as ours--to those OF every nation.
Freedom What Goes Germany mean
ty freedom The seas mus, l,e fyrr
10 right and closed to wrong
w wish the seas to remain frrc .
netitrals as long as ;ilat coru!..uu docs
hot aarm our cause; but | he,.cvs ;','
any ministry who did anything to Il %
prive Ms uf our power TO Cr.pp,c Co..
many would not remain in office FOR
the seven succeeding day.
American complaints of our pro,r-
oure must aston!sh US, las DO rcria.u
other details of vour G;overnmcn.'s
course. America mas posed, and very
~iust.nahl, has posed. a. the champion
u the rights OF weaker nations, us the
evangelist of the holiness ri treaties.
Yet when Germany has torn tho secora
to bits and tra.nrled or the rirct Amer
lea has made no protest. ! ,nd this
very puzzling.
1T !s my belief that President VII.
sor missed the greatest opportunity
when ever Will come to him. one ~
tn" greatest opportunities that ever
eaine to any man. when hc failed to
act IN stern adherence Of the dcvas,a-
ton Of weak Belgium. II seems IA
M" thu, II the spirit. which 7 found in
! America in 1865 still lives it mus