The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-19
BRYAN DEFENDS
DUMBA INTERVIEW
Says President Approved His
RcpOrt-Major Putnam At
tacks Ex-Secretary.
STIRS MOHONK MEETING

MoHoNK LAKE. May Is Major
George Haven Putnam. the New York
publisher, caused much excitement among
the peace advocates here to-day whcn
he launched an attack on the peace poll
cies Of William J. Bryan. Immediately
there was n fiareup on the convention
hoor and after some debate Major Put
nam admitted himself out OF order n
finished his speech without further ref
ernce 10 Mr.. Bryan.
Major Putnam declared Ahat among
the things which lessened respect Tor
the United states throughout the world
was "the presence In the Cabinet OF a
man like W. j. Bryan. who shamefally
misrepresented our country In his inter-
views with Dumba."
Mr.. Bryan reached the conference
hall a few minutes after Major Put
nam finished.
81 am not surprised that people
should be misled." he said. Those
who have nothing but the Eastern
metropolitan press to rely upon are for
innate II they get any truth.
Ambassador Dumba called AT the
state Department" he explained. at
a time when the President was in New
York"
Approved by P~residcnt.
Immediately after the interview, Mr..
Bryan said. he wrote out a repor, Of
what had taken place and sent II to
the President and received his approval
OF what he had said to the Austrian
Ambassador.
when I heard that my interview
was criticised" he continued. II called
in MIR. Dumba and read over the re-
port and II was approved by him The
thing misinterpreted was this: | aid
to Dumba hat the fact that lives were
lost In sinking ships made the contro-
versy different from the controversy
with England. which concerned only
loss of trade. That was the distinction
I made, and +, is the one that In made
very properly by every one that has
taken part In the controversy since
Mr.. Bryan dissented emphatica,'y
from the views expressed here by ex-
President Taft ~favoring the League to
Enforce Peace.
"If We join with Europe in enforcing
peace" he said. then We a hardly
refuse to le, them join in enforcing
peace over here. And II I know the
American people there il no disposition
here to abandon the Monroe Doctrine"
His fundamental objection to the
league was expressed AS follows:
When we turn from moral suasion
w lbTft VIZ sttp ubNn AN uOt w. q
don't care to have this nation a police
man.'
Mr., Bryan asserted hat prepared
ness such as is generally suggested will
not prevent war, but will provoke war.
II We had been az well prepared as
some nov ask us To be We would be
In the war now shouting for blood"
For Compilation by Force.
TIE use of military compulsios by a
group of nations to prevent IA was
favored by Herbert $. Houston and
Major Putnam. DIR. James l.. Tryon of
Boston. director of the New England de-
partment OF the Americai Peace Society.
and Alpheus II. Snow. a Washington
lawyer. ~s;renuous.y opposed any suc!,
pan.
Peace between nations" said Mr.,
Houston. 'just as peace within nations
must rest on force. Peace must be put
on a war footing and its advocates mus
quit the forum for the field II need b
t. fight. not to urge war. but the estab'
li%h peace"
Major Putnam said that tho Interna'
T ;.oual Tribunal at The Hague had thu
weakness ~ presenting no provision To-
f The enforcement Of the decisions Of tbs
tribunal.
IN every ''Ni'lzcu std'e OF the WofIt
decisions are now arrived at in a court
I These decisions would have little value
however. in maintaining eac in thu
communities unless back Of the authorit.
of the court stood an organized force"
Other speakers were Oscar s.. Straus
eN-Anbassador to Turkey Eugene
wambaugh, professor OF law in Harvard
University Edward Krehb!el. professor
Of history at Leland Stanford Jr. Uni
versity Richard Barthoidt. ex-Repre
sentative from Missouri. and FrederIcl
c. stevens. an ex-1epresentative from
| Nil neSnil.