New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-10

irritated the American government nor
disturbed the American public. This Is
not alone due 70 the fact that he has
spoken wisely; it is due also to the fact
that he has merely fallen in with the
custom that prevails in America. 1t was
lust what Americans expected; the reasons
that it did not prevail in Britain were IN
comprehensive TO them, and, failing to UNI
derstand, they attributed British silence to
British arrogance; they reasoned that the
British did not care what Americans
thought because they did not explain their
case by our method. OF course, this was
all profit TO the Germans, who made the
most out of the affair.
In recent months other British public
men have followed Lord Robert; there has
been a marked change in method and pol
lev. The most notable of all the public
statements Sir Edward Grey has made
was made TO a Chicago newspaper, and IL
had an incredibly wide circulation in this
country. But it has been Lord Robert
Cecil who, day in and day out quite as
any one of our own men in official posi-
ton would do, has explained the British sit
uation, until he has become accepted in our
newspaper world as the spokesman of the
British government, and if one only meas
ured the thing by the space and prom-
hence that his statements have earned IN
our newspapers, the benefit to the British
would be patent.
The American newspaper and the Amer
lean newspaper correspondent are instltl-
tons quite peculiar to ourselves. But
they are institutions, and not in the least
q mere side issue. We expect our public
men TO explain their purposes and policies
to us, not in public speeches, not on Off
cial occasions. but day by day and in our
newspapers. The President of the United
States fixes hours each week in which he
receives the Washington correspondents
and answers their questions. He is not
quoted, but every newspaper reader in The
country knows the source of those state
ments that follow these conferences. Bat
every other public official speaks in ms
own person and without the cover of
anonymity.
This is our way of Going things. 1t is
the way we are used TO getting our infor-
nation. The Germans, after grave
blunder, appreciated it and conformed to
it. The British were less quick to learn.
Particularly they failed to grasp the value
to them of American correspondents N
London, who WERE in fact, the best and
most effective instruments in their hands
to place their views before the American
public but could only succeed in doing
this if they were permitted to follow the
American method.
In recent months there has been very
great change. If Lord Robert has been
the most conspicuous contributor to the
change there have been others who have
followed his example. No friend Of The
Allied cause in America will regret the
change, will, in fact, fail to derive salts
faction from the new spirit that is re-
vealed in London. 1t was not easy for a
nation or an officialdom as conservative
as the British to change its methods to-
meet American customs, even when Brit
ish interests were to be served thereby.
That this has been done is tribute to The
fashion in which war has taught and s
teaching the English. And since the out
break of the war no Englishman has made
a greater or more useful contribution 20
maintaining friendly relations between
the United States and Great Britain than
has Lord Robert Cecil.