New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-21

@ W smhleyl
Wilson never ceases 10 press and press
and press upon England in her death
struggle with the Central Powers.
In the House of Commons.
Now the House Of Commons is &
very pretty instrument to play upon,
but you must know how. Govern
these ventages with your finger and
thumb. give II breath with your mouth
and il will discourse most eloquent
music" 1t is not everybody who can
follow Hamlet's counsel, perhaps not
more than three or four among its
present members. but of these SIR Ed
ward Grey is one. The secret, though
confided TO so few, is simple treat
things from a House OF Commons point
Of view; which must be not necessarily
an identical but sympathetic point of
view. There is no use IN being oiplo-
matte or forensic. or eccles lastical. Look
ct SIR John Simon, who Is purely
forensic and hopelessly out of touch.
Hidden away somewhere within these
sacred precincts ale huge accumula-
tions Of electrical energy. A word VIII
release them.
The New Gospel of Neutrality.
Sir Edward is an old Parliamentary
hand AS he speaks he measures the
effect Of his speech. AS he went on
celebrating his story Of good relations
between the Foreign Office and the
Navy the House grew listless. All al
once the orator swung clear away from
these minor matters and began TO dis
cuss Blockade and the rights of Neu-
trails. That was what the House want
ed 10 hear Neutrals object to our Or
DER in Council. he remarked. But that
is our way Of doing business, and II
we declare 4 blockade that also Will be
hv Order in Council. Then the House
/ knew something else was coming, and
4 il did come, and the Chamber thrilled
/ 10 the statement that II Neutral Pow
[ ers did not agree that their own prece-
dents-ours in the Civil War for one
were binding
Then | must say definitely that II
neutral countries were TO take that line
il is a departure from neutrality"
That is what the ouse had been
waiting to hear. Having heard II these
cheering members were perfectly con-
tent to hear also that no Neutrals-
America or other-had IN fact taken
that line.
Again, ! admit a very sharp curve.
But a curve is not an angle. 1t IS
method Of diplomacy by which. as in
this case, diplomacy of the recent past
may put itself in harmony with Ma
ton. | suppose it must be admitted
that Sir Edward Grey's prestige had
been impaired by the treachery OF Bull
CARA; by the indecisions of Greece; by
cher incidents in the Near East; as
we'll as by the surrender Of the Foreign
I p = nno1orafiOn IF I.nTnOn.
He must be less than human not TO be
aware of il and not TO desire to recover
what he had lost But | do not read
him as a man with whom personal in
terests are uppermost. He is still For
eign Minister and likely TO remain For
eign Minister. and il concerns England
far more than il concerns him that the
lost prestige, be il more or less, shall
be restored. The Balkans are not FOR
gotten, nor will they be forgotten. But
the truth about the English IS that as
q people they are almost too ready TO
forget the past errors of those who
serve them. and 10 believe that Minis
tiers who have made mistake after mis-
take have found salvation and the Sc
cret Of success and may henceforth be
trusted.
His Challenge.
II is that faith which the House
cheered and cheered again when SIR
Edward Grey spoke Of departure
from neutrality by neutrals them
selves or possible departure
And for the first time, / think, the
real gravity of the neutral claim pre-
sented itself TO the House when Sir
Edward Grey said:
There are things in the last Note
from the United States Government
which. IL we were TO concede them,
would make il in practice absolutely
impossible TO prevent goods, even con-
+ traband, going wholesale through neu-
trial countries 30 the enemy"
No Neutral Power would claim such
a right in theory. But Mr.. Lansing
sometimes forgets the diplomatst IN
his eagerness 10 make points. Inc
voice we hear is not really, ! suppose,
Mr.. Iansing's, but the voice Of Pres!-
dent wilson's colleague in the govern
ment of the United States, Count
] Bernstorf
So completely does Sir Edward Grey
FIJI the stage that have had TO let him
paint his own portrait or give his own
account Of himself. His is one Of the
great speeches of the war lie acted
great part, upon sIeaS sSr"e' AZ
great moment. Disraeli might have
done IT, lie could hardly have done It
better. Grey's is the voice not only Of
England but Of France. The two Pow
ers' in all relations with neutrals, will
act together, each in her own way. The
suppleness Of Sir Edward Grey's mind
fits him for the conduct OF such nego-
tiations. In the House he knew how
20 Law aside the subtleties of the For
eign Office. lie met the House upon
even terms. lie was adroit but frank.
! lie rose, a discredited Minister, to an
apprehensive House. lie sat down tri-
umphant lie has been weakness TO
the Government. in an hour he was
once more "A strength. as before. Au-
thority, confidence, leadership-he had
recovered them all. G. w. S.