New-York tribune., 1916-06-02

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | hesitate to express my views with
regard to the editorial which appeared in
The Tribune entitled THE British Failure.
One editor should not set himself up to cor
rect another editor, particularly one outside
his own country. Moreover, | suspect that
the British Failure" editorial is written for
the purpose of supporting some lesson or
policy in America. The last paragraph, for
instance, looks very suspicious. 1t begins
with the sentence, Democracy has failed in
England as it is failing in the United
States" ! read this in two senses. "Democ-
racy" in England applies to the more demo
cratic system Of government, which in this
country is represented by Liberalism and
the parties i'm advance Of IT., the radicals
and the labor people. In America 1t is a
party appellaton, and when the writer says
that democracy" is failing in the United
States ! take it that he does not mean the
fabric Of the Republic or the system Of gov
crnment founded on the Constitution, but
the policy represented by the present Ad-
miuistration.
As I suspect that there is party element
in the article, IL makes IL all the more diff
cult for me to offer any comments upon it.
My attitude toward the United States in this
war has been one Of neutrality. / have re-
garded the President as the personfcstion
Of the nation and deprecate any attacks
made on American policy by British news
papers, more especially attacks on the Pres
ideut and his ministers. ! am emboldened,
however. by the legend at the top Of the
editorial First to Last-the Truth TO
make 4 few observations.
I'm the first place, should say that great
part Of this editorial reads 10 me as an
echo. not lessened by the distance which 1t
has travelled. Of that which appears in a
section of the press in this country; that
section which INDUCES i'm what Mr.. Balfour
once described as "the gloomy JOY of self
depreciation" Take, for instance, the follow
/ ing extract from The Tribune article which
might have appeared in the more irrespon-
sible British press
whole system has broken down in
England, a system Of empire of life of
government. 4 handful Of insignificant
and selfish politicia s., long in control Of
the fortunes OF the nation, have managed
to keep control despite their failures,
which in France would have brought them
to the lamppost; they have deceived the
/ British people. and they are continuing TO
deceive the British people. and the result
is seen in Flanders i'm Asia. all over the
world, and IL is flaming up in Ireland.
/ The statements IN this paragraph are gro
tesque exaggerations. In another part OF
the article the writer says Of democracy:
II has not failed in France because the
nation has taken over its own leadership
and the men who are in Office weak men,
for the most. too march 10 the command
-
out illusion and without dsmay.
France has done magnifcently in this war.
She has been the object Of our envy and our
admiration, but it is true TO say that our
partnership has been essential, and, indeed,
vital. to France. We are defending Paris in
the North Sea. while she is defending London
at Verdun. We arc rendering a great deal
Of unseen but none the less necessary ser
vice TO France IN the way of supplies, pro-
visions, financial assistance, etc. A few
million men, with more reserves coming on,
TO add TO the Freach forces, also count for
something.
The press ooes not enjoy the same free
dom in France as in England. No public
meetings are held in France during the war.
Criticism of the governments war policy is
carefully watched by vigilant censorship.
When NJ Clemcnceau. for instance. in his
paper. "L'Homme Enchaine." after the first
few days Of the Battle of Nerdun, ventured
TO criticise the government war policy his
paper was suppressed for eight days NJ.
Clemenceau is by far the strongest person
ality in France lie has been three years
Prime Minister. and he is at present the
chairman of tho Senate Committee on the
ARMY bnd the Scratc Committee on Foreign
Affairs Yet the government does not hesi-
tate to cut great slabs out of his articles,