New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-08

Since the outbreak OF the war our govern
ment has given American journalists privi-
leges which it has denied 10 English news
papers. A distinguished American correspond
ent was frst allowed to visit the Grand
Fleet More recently American journalists
were permitted TO talk to the German prison
ors taken from the captured Zeppelin Some
| times we have had to buy American maya
zines or newspapers in order 10 learn facts
which our politicians preferred to disclose to
the American public rather than to the Brit
ish taxpayers who paid their salaries. Sir
Edward Grey is responsible for the most recent
development of this fashion. He has given an
interview to an American journalist which
was released" to the English press the same
day as it was published in America. While
1t is difficult to see the reason for all this,
one thing stands out clearly our political
rulers, in their wisdom, think it advisable to
give representatives of the American Press
every opportunity to form fair and just
opinion.
The leading article in The New York Trb-
rne of May / leaves no doubt as to what
that opinion is; and as our politicians attach
such Importance to the judgment of America,
it is TO be hoped that they will proht by 1t.
For my own part, ! do not consider any out
side opinion as TO our progress IN the war
can be of any service to US unless 1t ema-
mates from source which is alike friendly
and critical. | don't believe that there IS, or
can be. such thing As neutral opinion;
neutrality applies 70 acts, not thoughts. II
YOU see two dogs fighting in the street, you
instinctively want a particular one 70 win.
On the other hand, the opinion of the enemy
who sees no good in us, and that Of the
friend who secs nothing hut good, are equally
valueless But any views expressed by Inc
New York Tribune are entitled TO respectful
consideration. Not only has it been strongly
in favor Of the Allies throughout the war, but
il has always been noted before "a well as
since the war began, and sometimes blamed
for its pronounced and consistent friendii-
ness TO Great Britain. II was for many years
edited by the late Mr.. Whiteaw Reid. To-day
lis son. Mr.. Ogden Reid, is president Of the
company which owns 1t.
All who are in touch with the trend Of
opinion in the United States know that the
views Of The Trbune-whether they be right
or wrong are, In the main, those which nave
been held for some time past by that body OF
Americans which ia following the course OF
the war with almost as much anxiety and ap-
nrebension as We ourselves. They are men
81 British descent, who fervently desire
British victory-and real victory; who al
most refuse TO admit 10 themselves the pos
sibilitv Of a British defeat II is partly SEN
t;ment- partly interest They do not forget
from what land their forefathers set forth.
Their clearness Of vision enables them to see
that the ultimate safety of their own coun-
try is dependent upon our success.
And this is what they see.
Here follotcs the editorial article BRIT
ish Failure.'l
"The Outlook" publishes this article with
out comment and without assoeistlng it'ei
with the opinions expressed therein except
upon the following points;
CD 1.-The English people have had to
find out for themselves, and in the depths
of agony and suffering, what this world
war was. The colonies. far more alive to
the fact than the mother country. have
sent their sons to Flanders and TO Gallip-
oil. and they have been slaughtered as they
were at Anzac, at Ypres Talk with Aus
tralans or Canadians in England or on