New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-04
AN AMERICAN ADVOCATE
Mr.. James Montgomery Becks Services as
Seen in England.
From The London Daily TeIegrdph)

From The London Daily Telegraph
This week end will see the departure from
our shores of a distinguished visitor. who is
also one ot the truest friends and most pow
crfrI advocates of the cause for which this
nation and its Allies took up arms two years
eoo The Hon. James Montgomery Beck is
returning to the United States after stay
among US, in the course OF which our states
men and other men Of leading have been
rroud to do him honor. lie is a type OF
American public man that has always been
cgpecially welcome in this country lawyer
and administrator of cminence, an eloquent
and powerful speaker, vigorous and human
nersonality. But Mr.. Beck has laid our peo'
ple and those who stand with them IN IhIS
war under an obligation that recommends
him to them n hundred times more than IN"
social talent in which his countrymen excel
There is no man who has done more than ne
and many Americans have done much
MACE before the people of the United States
the fundamental truths which are the foun-
dation of the Allies attitude in this war.
The title of his book upon the origins of the
struggle. "The Evidence in the Case" sug-
gests the character of it, 1t is the work oil
trained legal misd appealing TO a legally
minded people, who from the first sought Sc
riously to arrive at an unpreludlced Judg-
ment on the rights and wrongs of the Euro
uean quarrel. If they have long since formed
as an overwhelming majority OF them have
formed-a judgment on the matter which Is
unreservedy in favor OF the Allies, 1t Is
ewing in no small degree to the "funda-
mental brain work" Mr.. Beck has done for
the cause of the justice Of which he had con-
WINGED himself. 1t was an advocacy OF when
VIC stood greatly in need. In no country had
cur enemies set on foot so extensive, so
costly or so vigorous propaganda as that
which was directed to securing the sympathy
of the United States No diplomatic objective
was more eagerly worked for by Germany and
none did she more confidently count upon at
teining. Passonately supported by German
American population numbering millions and
including more men of wealth and influence
than any other of the "hyphenated" sections
of the American public the strenuous efforts
of Berlin seemed assured of at least con-
siderable degree of success; and that conf
dence must have been immeasurably in
creased by the non-appearance of anything
approaching to an equal endeavor on the part
Of this country TO win over American opinion
70 its side. Yet the German attempt has
failed totally and disastrously. After six
months of war the hOpelessness OF success
was practically established, before the massa-
ere Of American citizens at sea and the inso-
lent defiance of American law by Germany's
diplomatic agents had finally turned every
hesitatng mind in the country against her
There was much to be said two years ago
for the organizing by this country of pub
lcity" campaign in the United States in OPP
position to that of our enemies; but history
il NAV be, will pronounce that our inaction
was-though we can scarcely take credit for
1.-THE better policy. Fortunately for our
cause. German acts did more than anything
else could do 20 destroy the effect of German
arguments; and, again fortunately for our
cause there were not wanting in America
men Of high ability and standing to bring
disinterested minds to the study Of the ques-
ton ard TO draw from it an intensity of
moral conviction that made them infinitely
more convincing champions of our cause than
any agents of ours could have been. Among
the foremost Of them was Mr.. Beck. In the
| ST eeches which he has delivered here he has
told US many things as TO the American atti-
tude which were far from being generally
realized by the ordinary British citizen. lie
has reminded US, for example, of fact which
lad been to great extent overlad by much
sentimental speaking and writing in recent
years; the fact that American public opinion
rever was and is not now predisposed in
favor of Great Britain in forming judgment
upon any British quarrel. He has reminded
us, further, that friendship with Germany
has been n cherished tradition of American
policy. and that in departing from it Ameri-
cans have deliberately faced the prospect OF
Germany's enduring enmity. He has shown
us. in fact. that the attitude OF his country
men, like his own, toward the European an
! tsgonists is founded upon plain conviction