Evening star., 1916-12-26
SWISS NOTE GETS
FA|RER RECEPTION
Arouses Less Hostility in Eng
land Than That of Presi-
dent Wilson.
CRITICISED FROM PULPIT
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, December 26.-Interest in
the receipt of President Wilson's note
remains unabated. Newspaper discuss
sion was renewed today with a new
impetus. administered by the issue Of
the Swiss note, with its disclosure Of a
Swiss ss-American consultation weeks
ago. and by long cable dispatches re-
cording the discussions. speculations
and criticisms in America
On the main question-as to how
President Wilson's note and similar
communications should be treated by
the alles-opinion remains as already
recorded There is on the one hand
reiteration of "the rooted objection of
the allies to inopportune and ill-ad-
vised intervention by neutrals," and on
the other an appeal for courteous
treatment of neutral representations. 1t
being urged that the allies are Dound
to take them into account, for to do
otherwise would be to reduce them
selves to "the level of the aSgreSSorS
who began the war.
Apart from the main question, there
is much discussion as to the genesis,
nature and probable effects of Presf-
dent Wilson's message. Dispatcnes
from Washington and New York repre-
sent public opinion in America as un-
Informed and as curious on these
points as opinion Is here. 1t seems a
matter of special satisfaction 10 sone
editorial writers that criticisms of tho
Presidents phraseology and surprise
at the course he has taken are, accord
ing to these dispatches. Identical on
both sides of the Atlantic The Times
says:
Swiss Note Less Criticised.
.r, would not be easy to discover in
the recent history OF diplomacy state
paper issued by any great power which
has proved SO exceedingly difficult OF
plain Interpretation. President Will
SONS first duty to his fellow citizens,
10 the combatants and to other neu-
trails would seem to be to make his
meaning less obscure.
"Unless and until he does so the allies
must put upon it what seems to
them the natural Interpretation. and
the character of that Interpretation
may be inferred from Mr.. Bonar Laws
remarks the other night
Switzerlands action, while declared
in quarters where President Wilson's
note was met by an emphatic no as Of
fering no greater prospect OF bringing
peace than that of the President, is
suffer-" says the Chronicle. from the
misfortune of the circumstances under
which the American note was pub
hshed, making 1t seem an appendix to
the German proposals, because the
Swiss statesmen make 1t clear their
overt agreement is the outcome of an
exchange of views which had been pro-
ceeding confdentially for weeks"
The Telegraph, taking the same at
titude, says: THE Swiss note prudent
Y ha INC nf arpt Ant yrvf,t tC6
earned for President Wilson so cool
reception by all the belligerents, and
takes only that ground on which every
neutral has right to be heard
Westminster Dean Caustic.
The Dean Of Westminster, the Rt
Rev. Herbert Edward Ryle, preaching
in the abbey yesterday, said:
ut is our resolve, God helping US, to
overthrow military brigandage in Eu-
rope, to rescue the liberties and homes
of the desolated countries, to obtain
for these people reparation for their
wrongs and for humanity lasting Sc
curittes against q recurrence of ag-
gressfve violence and crime.
1T is true that the President of the
United States, after two years of study
of the question and innumerable notes
seems to believe that the object of the
two groups of belligerents is the same
He knows that Germany refused arbi-
tration. declined a conference and re-
3ected every overture to prevent war
He knows that his own countrymen
, have poured money like water to assist
the destitute and outraged remnants of
the little Belgian people, whose treaty
rights were violated and whose from
tiers were invaded before war was de-
clared. He knows of the infractions of
Inc Hague conventions. which the
American people have studiously pro-
NOTED.
Knows of German Deeds.
HE knows all the details of ,ba
organized atrocities reported upon in
strict Inquiries. He knows OF the
sinking of unarmed passenger ships,
like the Lusitania and the Arabia, with
out notice or warning. He knows Of
the murder of Capt Fryatt; of the
nocturnal deportations of BeIgians and
French into slavery. He knows Of
German connivance at Armenian mas
sacres And yet he. is of the opinion
that the nations who are leagl1ed tn
oisarm this evil demoniac of national
nilitarism have the same aim in view
as the perpetrators Of these historic
crimes IL
President Wilson has either in a.
OF mental aoerration. sent the wrong
hote; or ne has entirely misappre-
nended the European situation
These things are black and vile TIL.
very thought Of them on Christmas
aay makes one shudder. Does any one
suppose that peace would be honor
able which regarded the assailants and
the defenders Of humanity as having
IN view the same ends? What kind
OF unity OF aim do you expect between
wo.Ves ana sheep dogs over the feeces
OF torn lambs?
PEACE on the basis Of such q hypotb-
esIs would be only an arrnistice Civ
ing an exhausted foe a rnuch-needed
interval for recupera ton before re ew
ing his Unsuitable passion for The bay.,,-
oLy or The world and the tIestr1,ctiop
OF mis- rivals with ID savage war
SPEAKS FOR SMALL NATIONS