New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-06

AMERICAN FOREIGN RELATIONS nv, WINS
flefchcr Johns'n. A. NJ. J. T. ID WIN 10y
Century Company.
The American people are at last
awakened to the fact that, for the sake
Of the future safety and prosperity OF
the country, they must learn 90 think
in international terms" The legend Of
our isolation from the rest of the
world, Of our blessed geographical po-
sition, which obviates wars Of defence
as Of offence, and renders even arma-
ment for defensive war unnecessary,
has been exploded. Many there still
be, IL is true. who assert that, even lt
we have become world power we shall
be able 10 maintain our world Interests
and rights without adequate force 20
make them respected. but, on the
whole, we are awake, rudeiy shaken
out of a dream which never was true,
and which never could have been in
dulged in had VIC, as a people, chosen
20 study the diplomatic history OF our
country. That study is now being taken
up seriously, and 20 its pursuit such a
work as this Of DR.. Johnson is valua-
Bile contribution. IL is written for the
layman-it is q popular history, 60 use
a current term. But in 10 the history
has not been sacrificed TO The adjective.
When Washington warned this Re
public in its infancy 20 beware OF ior-
eign alliances he did not lay down
new principle 20 be adhered 20 forever
after, regardless of what the unknown
future might bring forth. He proved.
rather, that he had been q close student
of his country's history even before IT.
had been born as a nation. lie under
stood the part which the colonies had
been made 20 play in the politics and
the wars Of Europe that OF pdwns.
Spanish intrigue at the Court Of James
! had come near 20 undoing the work
Of the Virginia Company without re-
sort 10 arms: 10 had been considera-
lions Of European diplomacy that in
duced Charles ] 10 restore to Louis
Mi all places possessed by the Eng
Gsb I'm New France. Acadie and Can
ada; the Peace of Ryswick had given
Port ROYAL back 20 Louis XIV; New
Netherland. thrust into the body OF the
British possessions. had always been
potential cause Of war IN the Oid
World and the New. The French and
Indian War had set Europe on IRE.
And 10 him, the head Of the Revolu-
tion. the altogether selfish purposes Of
French diplomacy and aid during that
period can have been no secret. lie
had witnessed, too, the French encour-
agement given to colomsts during me
decade preceding the break, and ne
must have known that IL considered the
welfare Of the Colonies no more than
Germany considers to-day the interests
Of India. Egypt. South Africa or Ire
land in her ceaseless endeavors TO STIR
up instruction there.
IL is with these prenatal relations
with Europe. as he calls them, that Dr.
Johnson begins his history. lie pro-
ceeds TO prove how they turned into an
inheritance whose succession has never
been broken from generation 90 genera
ton. Indifferent though we have been
10 both IT'S possibilities, ever growing
greater as the country grew, and 90 lrs
dangers. steadily growing with them.
To begin our history as factor m
world politics with the Spanish war is
q shortsiChted view 20 take. The New
World has been "a factor IN lnterna-
to0al policies since the day when Coz
iunhuS set foot on it-a passive factor
u~tl .ndopendence was won; am active
factor ever since. beginning with the
a,ortivc effort Of France TO put the
Young Republic in leading strings TO
make .t serve her purposes.
DIR. johnson gives as the unbroHen
record of our foreign relations down 20
the second Hague Conference IN the
West and the wear 1913 IN the Far East
The War of 1872, the Monroe Doctrine,
the Civil War. the Mexican Expire. the
opening Of Japan. the Venezuelan af-
fair, the Spanish war, the Open Door
these are the milestones M a record Of
negotiations, treaties, delicate s'tua-
tons, able and not seldom inept dlplo-
macy in which America. instead OF
standing aloof as popular belief has n,
has taken her share and safeguarded
her interests and made her influence
felt in the affairs of the world. If to-
day we stand face 20 face with a crisis
IL is unexpected only because the ma
jority Of US have chosen 20 neglect the
study Of the origin and development