New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-13
Mr.. Wilson Abroad
md WHAT KIND SERVICE LATELY BEEN DOING HIS


London, February IL.

,coy7ris,t 1918. ~
London, February II.
When Mr.. Wilson launched his Papal
Bull against Americans Abroad, did .
occur 10 him that there is a sense in
which he also is az American abroad
His mere physical presence il not
necessary to expose him TO the snath-
ema which falls upon US because We
live in Europe and, incidentally, be-
causs our views are not DR.. Wilson's
views. Day by day he Is present In
the European Press.
What They Know OF Us Over Here.
do not know how FAR it is realized
in America that the course Of diplo-
matte events at home is set forth in
the European and especially in the Eng
lish Press with great fulness Of de-
tail and much freedom Of handling.
DR.. Wilson is himself partly respon-
sible for this, since the relations he
maintains with the European Press are
with respect 70 European matters, not
less intimate than those with the
American Press on American matters
He may not be aware that in some
cases the effect IS as T. IL were sough.
10 present 10 the European reader the
views which DR.. Wilson desires 70 be
presented; or as If there were te.e-
phone between the White House and
Fleet Street. use Fleet Street not 70
indicate a particular journal, but as q
recognized symbol for English journal
ism in general So that if opinion and
feeling abroad run high against him. il
Is out Of his own mouth that ne is
condemned.
Mr.. Wilson's Oratory Abroad.
Never has he stood so low as to-day
The English public are fairly at loss
20 know what 20 make Of our illustrious
Chief Magistrate. Here is President
proclaiming TO the world one day that
he-cannot say what may be the reia-
tons Of America with the belligerents
till tomorrow Literally tomorrow.
Next We hear that If the American peo-
pie could read the dispatches he has 90
read each day they would not FEEL
sure Of peace for q single hour. Il
would hardly be possible 20 use graver
or more menacing forms Of speeeh. let
TWO or three days later Or. wilson eN-
claims: "A crisis? ! have said nothing
about crisis"-the response OF the
country not having been what he OK
pocted' In the bew.iderment OF the
English public in presence Of suc1
cat's-cradlo diplomacy as this there ~
but one adequate expression silence.
They do not even protest when M..
Wilson goes 20 TOpcka and tells the
peoDle Of Kansas they have right to
sell their grain 10 a belligerent when
ports are closed and that the South
has a right 20 sell its cotton. / do noot
wish TO be rude % Or. Wilson. VIII
not saw be knows that what he said is
untrue But anybody else must have
/ known that this right" 20 sell wheat
and cotton is subject 20 the laws OF
war in time Of war. Such state
ment may be meant 20 lay the basis
for another Note against the blocAaae
Rut this is shirt-sieeves diplomacy
without even the sh.rt-sleeves. II -
the speech not OF a diplomatic but
Of the demagogue. Does Mr. uson
think he can beat Mr.. bryan at 2 IS
own game? With its brazen appeal 20
passion and seifshness, IL Is the BLACK
est speech since the war began. IL
we're merely charitable 20 say that no"
at last we see what the "valor OF IS
norance" really means.
His Reversals of Policy.
But will quote a passage from a re-
cent washington dispatch, which GER
tainly never came through the Nnlte
House telephone. Under the heading
/ presidential Nacillation' may be reag
in the Morning Post OF February ID
these sentences;
"The diplomatic situation Is com
plicated because OF the hopeless con-
fusion surrounding the Lusltania nego-
tiations. and the startling way III which
the President reverses himself. Since
be has been in Office he has four times
changed his views on questions Of the
highest importance. Tie recanted his
beiicf In regard 20 Woman Suffrage
lie revoked his original Mexican policy
lie opposed a Tariff Commission, and
now advocates one. He saw no neces-
sity for military preparation. and now
insists upon il. At the beginning Of the
war he ruled that 1t was permissible
for merchant ships 20 carry guns for
defence. What he VIII now decide
must soon be known
The catalogue is not complete. but
the Engl:shman who reads 10 may well
ask himself. "Has Mr. Wilson ever had
81 policv or fixed opinion or conviction p
/ lie is not. this English reader, wholly
unacquaiuted with American political
/ literature. He ia quite capable Of
quoting. though not in print:
1 4 merciful Providence fashioned rs
| holler
o. purpose that We might our principles
EWallcr.
II indeed the heeting phantasm Of q
belief or a purpose can be called a
/ principle.
Jigsaw Puzzles.
or late il IS the patience OF the
American public, and especially Of the
I American Press, which perp.exes the
/ Fnglishmnn who studies such matters
I foi himself. For fortnight he has
been RECALLED with fables about the
Lusitania settlement" Semi-o official
accounts OF 10 appear, but nobody
/ knows whether there has been settle
ment or not, or what the settlement is.
| i. .,L.s ,,,ica Ar,orfra has AGREED 20