New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-29
AMERICA AFTER THE WAR
The Fruits of President Wilson's Foreign
Policy May Prove Bitter.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: There lately appeared in the daily
papers lengthy interview with the distn-
guished peace advocate VI. Destournelles de
Constant, in which he in friendly manner
crticises and points out the International
sins and shortcomings of President Wilson's
Administration since the beginning of the
Great War. He makes il plain that this ma
ton, while posing neutral, was only
neutral as Pontius PLATE was a neutral; while
not taking an active part with either one OF
the belligerents, manifestly neglecting its
duty to all beligsrents and all neutrals BY
refusing to act promptly and decisiyely when
the well recognized principles Of international
law were deliberately and wantony violated
by one Of the beligerents.
An offence against the law of nations is
an offence against all nations, and it is the
duty of a neutral when such an offence IS
committed to insist that the offender shall
make amends and. failing TO do so, the neutral
will sever all commercial and diplomatic rea-
tions with it. It is not always necessary in
such cases that the neutral should take an
active part in the contest and go to war, but
it can exercise moral coercion and by doing
so bring the offending belligerent to a sense
of his obligations. A few days after the pub
LEGATION Of the interview with NJ. de Constant
there appeared in The Associated Press dis
patches an editorial from THE London
Times" which gave an outline of what 1t
deemed would be the "post-belum rights OF
the United States" when the great war should
come to an end. II is not necessary to make
an extended comment on these two publlca-
tions, for | daresay that they have been
read and pondered by every American that
reads and thinks.
They are chips upon the surface OF the
water that tell US which way the tide is flow
ing. They very clearly indicate that when
peace has come again that this nation Will
have to face problems in international law,
international comfy and finance Of the gray
est import, and ones that will call for the
profoundest deliberation Of the nation and
craftsmanship Of the highest order-that is,
practical craftsmanship which will be free
from the slightest faint Of sickly sentimental
ty. Has the course Of President Wilson in
his dealing with Mexico and other interna-
tional problems given us such assurance that
we may expect such craftsmanship from
him? Has the conduct of this nation as
neutral and one of the powers that make in
ternational law been such that it is entitled
- have its voice heard in the coming parlia-
ment Of the nations? The words OF NJ. de
Constant and "The London Times" seem 20
indicate that even now our conduct as a
neutral and our international position after
the war are being debated by the great pow
ers The remarks made by these two great
authorities on international questions are
especially pertinent. coming as they do after
our protest upon "The Black List of the Al
lies"
One who reads the decisions OF the United
States Supreme Court in the cases of The
Flying Scud. Wall, 1858; Withenbury vs.
L. s., 70 U. s., sol; the William Bagley per
Justice Clifford, Wall, 317, cannot fail to
observe that the Allies have taken a leaf
out of our own history and of our own
Interpretation of international law. Yet, in
spite of this fact, upon the publication OF
the editorial from "The London Times"
some Democratic papers Immediately had a
burst of journalistic hysteria and demanded
in no uncertain terms that if the Allies
continued their black list and would not yield
to all the demands OF the United States as
TO trade. ETC. after the war closes that the
United States should establish an embargo
upon their commerce and force compliance. Do
these papers for moment seriously pretend
to believe that when the Great War is over
five Of the worlds most warlike nations,
with millions of trained men and the largest
and best equipped navies Of the world, ore 20
be bluffed by such measures? The war
begrimed statesmen and warriors Of Enrope,
fierce with victory, are not apt 10 be patient
under threats OF coercion, nor are .Icy likely,
on the other hand, TO relish moral Lectures, as
with them pedantry is a subject OF ridcule.
No. The Brysnic age has not yet arrived.
The conclusion of this matter is that our
country is face TO face with a grave crisis,
especially in its foreign affairs, and every
individual has right to ask whether or not