The sun., 1916-11-27
Lawyer, Replying to Schiff,
Asserts America Has
lost Prestige.
RAps ADMINISTRATION
Tells Reasons Why Allies
Would Resent Overtures
From L. s.. Now.

James NJ. Beck, former Assistant At
,orpcy.t;cneraI OF the United STATES,
Yesterday issued his reply to the criu-
c,sms which Jacob II. Schin recently
made of Mr.. Bcck's views on Americas
mart In preparing peace proposals Tor
he European belligerents. In 1t he
aa,,y con,radicts MIR. Schifr. maintain
ing both that the time is inopportune
and that the United States. through
the supinc weakness Of its Administra-
,lon." has lost the prestige necessary
10 leadership In such a move.
Mr.. Schiffs remarks were made at q
meeting of the League to Enforce Peace,
Of which ex-President Taft In the head.
last Friday evening. He said IL Ii the
duty Of the United States to endeavor
TO persuade Europe to lay down It's
arms. An offer of peace proposals
would win us the regard Of all the a
tons and fulfil our obligations as the
trustee OF humanity. he believed.
Mr.. Schir took open Issue with a
speech made by MIR. Beck at a Fifth
Avenue Association dinner. In which the
lawyer took the stand that any urging
toward peace now would be premature
and would bring us the hatred of the
Allies as well as the hatred Of the
Central Powers. Mr.. Schiff criticised this
stand as "unwise.'
u. u..L. ...
In his rebuttal yesterday Mr.. Beck
said in part:
In making any reply to Mr.. Schiff I
must first, TO avoid any misinterpreta-
ton. express the great respect I nave
g. IT, -I
upon public matters. II ! anL many
others are not In accord with him In
this vital matter, 1t should be remem-
bered that in n period of passionate
strife. through which the world Is now
passing and which Ia not restricted TO
the belligerent nations. men of equal
sincerity and n common desire for truth
NAV reasonably differ.
Mr.. Schin quotes some London daily
a, Tho Interests ~ hrm.nI,v a,S Trom
this he passes to the conclusion that
America SHOULD as such trustee step be-
tween these impassioned belligeren's
and persist until both sides name terms
upon which peace may be discussed
"f America In the last two years has
In any manner acted as such trustee for
the interests Of humanity then l should
like Mr.. Schlr or any one who thinks
win MN to point out In what respect
Individuals have done much. but wha'
has our Government done? It is true
that our Government did at first will
some v.gor and subsequently with ar
ever increasing diminuendo attempt Il
indicate by idle words the rights o'
non-comhatants on the hig seas. bu'
even tins contention. when sraduai'!
became through lis insincere inenective
ness. a subject OF ridicuie
sI me world GRADUALLY diminished int'
ieeoIe sugsestloh mat at ieast I'M
ives OF american c'tihens shou'u On
spared ana even ina sma,, remhan' o
our moral rro'es. was aitosetner en-
u"suuSn.u WIFI. WIZ Nv az. app.osa
y our ,'o,ei"lien'' oe.,n.n n"rn.,
sone "cehS aso H"n1r."
Nune" ~ .nl,'ie" ~" ~ -.
- '"D" 500
"'s' " ou'
-
s"'
to all the other outrages upo
humanity In the last Nv
Years. America, through the supin
weakness OF its Administration. mas pee
consistently silent as a political EMIT,
and II we are to regard ourselves as IN
trustee Tor humanity, let us beware Una
the court OF last resort OF posteri'S ma
ho' hereafter ana TOT al future t,l
'eearh us III this cr's'S MS u i"''"'es
Uustee' .
ne 'hls az ]. may. MT HenIn aus
80 wa. as suen ~ - h.,',s
Wau ou,s 10 s'ep ue.".en 80,
e'ehts without their direct ashiHs VI W
.o'u oi'ees anu enue",oi
~ my Judsmeht' no eviI cou,o DC s,.a
uan d premature pea.e =" sn' .r'h,
WINE my preuic'ioh t"at nv .e...