New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-21

The opinion friendly TO Wilson IS tina,
by his present action ne ~ mahlhE >.
more difficult for Germany 10 pusue
roIicv Of friahtfulness at che nsk o.
hrcaLiro with the United states. Con
..ircod that this country ls Wiling 10
bend overv effort 90 bring about pe"'''
Germany Mr.. Wilson, fuends say
vill strain every nerve 70 remain "'i
friendly terms with the most po"ei'"'
Tbst ie how the friends of the Pres
ident explain his mental process
There Is however. another theory az"
vanced bv those not 80 kindly dlsposeu
20 the Chief Executive. .n
suspicion expressed more IMAM
once in high quarters to-day was Una.
President Wilson acted a. this moment
,hrough fear that otherwise his oppof-
.u,itv TO plav = part I'm the final peace
might he lost. This the President as
claims specifically in the note. partlcu-
lsrlv in the version sent 90 the Gu
tonic allies. But those who hold ms
opinion noint out that not only mas MT
Wilson confessed his ambition TO be
mediator. but he naturally would at
temnt ia obtain hearing for the
neutrals when terms were discussed.
Criticised by Muensterberg
+, was recalled to-day that several
months ago the late Hugo Muens'eI
berC described the Presidents am
hilton i'm no fatterinG terms. ln lel-
ter addressed to Chancellor Won Bcth
mann Hollweg. which was intercepted
IN the mails bv the British. In TINS
letter Professor Muensterbcrg stated
his belief that "if once Mr.. wilson
works himself into the idea OF beng
the arbitrator of the world he Will be
SO intoxicated by the JOY OF PLAYING an
historic part that he Will give hlmseI
ND to il with his whole soul, ana with
out rest.
"He will remain strictly neutral. the
letter went on. less out Of moral con
scjentiousness than from an %stheuc
pleasure in his new role.
Professor NuensteTbcrg was not
speaking merely as psychologist, as
he stated elsewhere in the same letter
that he had confidential information
from the best informed circles.
Roosevelt once told me Professor
NuenyterberC continued. that he was
brought UP in hatred for England. but
that on the day he entered the White
House he made vow 20 hlmseli 10
overcome this feeling Wilson will IN
the same way vow TO himself to lay
aside his anti-German feeling; onl;
when he succeeds in rising above him-
self will be feel the full JOY Of the act.
: For all these reasons J hold II now
20 be my chief task here 10 encourage
the pacifst sentiment now abroad, and
so my main work consists IN continu-
ously writing new essays and articles IN
favor of the preservation OF peace and
of WILSON, reputation as a mediator;
all this material naturally appears
without my name
Muensterberg referred TO the Bryan
which ne regarded az
premature but valuable. and assured
the Chancellor that he would go on
with mis- work "canvassing more cs-
pecially Intellectual circles.
Propaganda at White House
The Muensterberg propaganda las
reached as far as the White House.
This fact is incontrovertible. Since the
German peace offer was made the Presi-
dent has been deluged with letters urg-
inc him 10 take steps 10 support II.
MANY OF these letters were palpably the
product OF a concerted German effort
TO urge him into some action similar 30
that which he has just taken.