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


-,,-.i. this about Sir Edward Grey
-, he always has something in re-
:. .or an emergency. That is what
.,... him, or helps make him, one Of
4, NOS, perplexing personalities IN a
.,-,,sr;ng Ministry. Il makes him
h. & very interesting study. | have
- several times IN these columns to
h .,,,h him. There are salient features
- traits which DO not change; which
:, individual, permanent, indestruet-
\ -. At whatever angle you see the
,n Is clear cut, eagle-like; the face
-, man. in these days inestimable,
=, Is capable o. making up his mind
~ G. making Up other peoples minds.
al ye, before my sketch is a week or
ro,,b old want 70 tear il up and
! .,.n again; as am doing now.
What Does America Think:
suppose there may be, al the mo-
.,r; and for the moment. in America
s,r:ain regret, or perhaps resent
-cL at sir Edward Grey's new stti-
sts ana Few frmness Of speech. IL Is
70; point ! am going 10 argue, but
tssld like to make two remarks; First,
Va: would you think Of a British
Mister who in a controversy with
.,y other Power did not fly the British
AZ and nail II 20 the mast? Second,
lis not disputed in America that Sir
kEsrd Grey's diplomacy with the
Lifted States has been patient in tone
rs eonciliatory in matters not vital 70
Z, defence Of British policy. VIVA,
En Of thanks did be get for it from
~ We have kept on saying; ayes,
VI polite speeches are not what we are
ts. Deliver the goods"
\ I was an answer which showed two
pats Of rs. We have our own standard
\ diplomatic punetilio, which diplo-
a.isis bred In European traditions
s-etimes think q little abrupt. We
AVE also respect fo- results. II is
nssl.s We want J put that to you as
1 cart summary OF a European view
'sieh has perhaps been expressed too
ttsly IN the European press. l need
sLss background for what ] am going
70 sag Of the Sir Edward Grey whose
ueIpecied attitude in his Wednesday S
reech captivated the House Of Com
ssss.
The Apostle of Peace
i is the fashion, except in Germany,
. think or speak Of Sir Edward Grey
usl apostle OF peace. But there have
ls,n very sharp curves in his career.
he sharpest Of al was on that memoir
l,ls night OF August 3, 1914, when he
ta,sa 10 the House Of Commons what
Z had done and tried 10 do for peace.
hs had shrunk from no step. Since
'.s tragedy a. Sarajevo he had inter
tined a. each moment. He had APP
ptled 70 Germany, 20 Austria, and,
s'ier she had svowed herself the
ttsmpion Of Serb interests-to Russia.
~ lad made proposals 10 one Power
aier another tending 20 peace. He
tle exhausted every means. Long
riti i had become plain that Germany
'is resolved on war and that Austria
!" only the pretext and tool, he perse-
Hee. he had secured an engagement
~ france 70 respect the neutrality Of
S'ggn, SCATTERING al a blow Ger
Gys sole pretext for violating It.
aH III Germany made her infamous
i''posai' TO England 70 join with her
iampling on The freedom of Bel
tn which both had sworn to protect,
81 Grey desist.
.hen Il was, az that last moment,
H. ne British Foreign Minister dis
s~a 70 the House Of Commons the
.aaory OF that mOath, and by frank
.'o.n' Of what he mad one for peace
-"' up an imrregnable case for war.
.s nic bare the intrigues and tresch-
.l o. Germany. and that is why he has
I" since been hated by the Germans.
~ Long Patience with Neutral Lands.
me history Of his unremitting ef-
70 Keep on terms with the Neutral
us IN respect Of blockade might
sfitien In much the same way. lie
eorne much and ask ID his country
A' meeh. There grew up IN Eng
eeling that his concessions 20
ga went too far and yet bore no
r.. n suggestion was sometimes
ron The United States hat we
y~y to press . point and Grey
give IN, q suggestion which did
t.. ".uslce and was injurious 20 US
But here again comes in the per-
-. cement. Long befor. the war
- or was thought unay Jidable. Sir
Trey lad accustomed himself
she neutrals from the neutral
W view. During all the negotis-
.1shleh brought about that unhappy
L,s,'on OF London, he conceived OF
tssa as Neutral Power. On that
IN, was that Declaration framed.
mouse OF Lords. with the broad
ISM which often distinguishes il
h., ign affairs, had rejected il. On
b. ~eory the Government revived il
b. an Oroer In Couaeii declared IL,
b., beeihed exceptions, in force, has
h, yeen explained. rather imagine
explanation is psychological.
war which C.ey was for
rs,,s 70 Il complete victory, the
ln,,S' NE theories ~ neutrality still
lusc about.
o. then a wonder that he was ac-
~. ~. GRIPPING the Navy? He denied
s.,,l Was expected to devote his
VI ~ 81 Wednesday 10 clearing him
tsisS .ast charge lie touched on 1t,
tse.s again, explained certain incl
ss,r pne rtsfirmed the solidarity ex-
ssn os e'ween the Navy and the For
& ,As Dir, Balfour. as First Lord
iasd',. admiralty. sitting by and APP
ts s sentence by sentence. All
n a., prettily stsge-mansged. but
~, , I've convincing. Sir Edward
atxss 'elt he was making little
TO-, ! touch on the debate only
Ne y helps explain Sir Edward,
sNti p.'haps al this moment better
"a N, ssnoerstanding than anybody
III II sis is he with whom we are
i 1. 70 contact; and he who holds
atss .1as ~ Foreign Minister the
T" the discussion which Dir.