The Washington herald., 1916-11-06
ENGLISHMEN NEUTRAL
ON ELECTION IN U. S.
Sritish Newspapers Cautious About
Commenting on Campaign.
BY JOHN l.. BALDERsTON.
Copyright, lelel

Copyright, l9le)
London, Nov 5.-Despite the claims
upon public attention exercised by the
war. no presidential election since Amer
ca obtained her independence has ex-
cited so much interest in England as the
Hughes-W Wilson contest. This is true be-
cause the British feel that for the first
time the result of an American election
may vitality affect their own interests.
And, curiously although the belief still
persists here that the United States may
be forced into the war and although in
terest in the election Is caused solely by
he effect 1t will have on American for
eign policy. it cannot be said that Eng
lish opinion as a whole favors one can
didate and opposes the other.
In the past, American newspapers have
kept In touch with British views on the
United States by reprinting comments Of
the British press. That will not serve
this year. because the newspapers in Eng
land are extremely careful as rule not
10 print views or comment calculated to
offend powerful neutral states. 1 have
not seen in a British publication any
comment on American affairs that at all
squares with the remarks made not only
by political leaders, business men ana
men in the street, but even by the edl-
tors themselves.
England at the time the nominations
were made was overwhelmingly pro-
Hughes. An Englishman, or even an
American in England. who would stand
up for the President was a rare bird last
June This was due to the fact that
all classes here believed the election
would be fought out with Wilson COM
mitted to a peace program and the Re-
publicans to an anti-German attitude
which would probably result sooner or
later in a break with Germany. The
views of Col. Roosevelt whose speeches
and statements were quoted everywhere
here with unqualified approval, were
probably responsible for this feeling. And
disappointment here was intense when
the colonel was beaten at Chicago.
The British attitude has changed in
the last four months, and now is on the
whole one of bewilderment. Englishmen
want the United States to enter the war,
feeling anxious for her moral support
as well as for the material aid that might
be extended in the two years or more
the war will probably continue. l have
no hesitancy in making that statement,
although for obvious reasons the de-
sire for American help is more or less
skilfully disguised in the press and in
public speeches. But in considering the
prospects of the election, people here no
the most for the entente and the least
for Germany. And their anger against
and disappointment with President Will
son. in spite OF the recent i'll feeling over
American complacency at the exploits of
the us, has distinctly cooled since last
summer.
Two considerations have contributed
to shake the strong British opinion that
President Wilson has followed a policy
weak in the extreme if not pro-German,
and that a Republican would take
stronger line of action in the "crises"
that will doubtless continue to recur at
intervals in Washington until the war is
over
The bitter hatred felt for Wilson in
Germany, expressed in articles and car
toons, coupled with the belief rightly or
wrongly entertained in England that the
Gerrnan-American vote is solidly behind
Hughes. makes Englishmen wonder
whether they have not Judged Wilson
wrongly, or whether. even If Wilson has
been weak and spineless. Hughes will
not be more so from the entente point Of
view.
This tendency to become more favor
able to Wilson simply because the Ger
mans dislike him and are said to favor
his adversary is not based on any rea-
soning but Is natural under the circum-
stances. And the drift toward the
Democratic candidate is helped by exist
ing distrust and disquietude concerning
the attitude of Hughes toward the war.
Noboiy here has any clear notion
whether Mr.. Hughes is pro-ally or pro-
German. and l need hardly say that no
belligerent is willing to admit that such
thing as a genuine neutral can exist.
The suspicion that Hughes is at least IA
vorably inclined toward the German side
is heightened by his noncommittal atti
tude toward foreign affairs and by the
fervent support rendered him up to this
time by the majority of the German
American press in the United States.
Were it not for the support of Col
Eo.-.s.'i. believe Hughes would be so
profoundly distrusted in England that
every one would favor Wilson. But
Roosevelt, at present the foremost
American in British and French eyes, Is
rega aTded by many as guaranteeing the
'orthUdoxy' of Hughes IF Hughes were
not really for us. the Colonel would not
SupDCrt him: it is unthinkable that
Roosevelt would have turned the Bull
Moose Warty over to Hughes without
ira L ing certain Of Hughes views on what
Roo .,..t Knows TO be war for civiliza-
ton 4 foreign Office official remarked to
me. And he admitted that his hope
Hughes will win is based solely on this
ground. On the other hand, the editor of
one of the most powerful newspapers
here recently refused to print an article
dealing with a phase of the economic
war after the war" so much discussed
here. although he had written it himself,
when the suspicion crossed his mind that
il might be used by the Republicans in
America for campaign material against
the President.
A month ago, in government circles and
even in the cabinet, it was thought that
President Wilson planned to make an at
tempt at mediation in Europe to further
his own chances of reelection. The in
terview given by Lloyd George to the ef-
feet that the war must be fought to a
knockout" II is generally understood
was intended to forestall any such move
which would seriously embarrass the en-
tente powers, who are unwilling at the
present time to state their terms Of
peace for the simple reason that they
could not formulate them without dis
agreeing among themselves
Recently Information from Washington
from such sources that it obtained in
slant belief. was received here that Will
son at no time has had any intention of
Offering his good offices until he is as
sured by both sides that they will be
welcome. This has sent Wilson stock
soaring and sllayed the fear that Ger
many would be able to use him as a tool
to stir Up trouble between the allies and
make the neutral world believe that the