The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-26
PELolUM,s NEUTRALITY.
England Charged with Not Always
Being Sollcltous About II.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir. To
a traveller and student in England and
Europe for years and a constant reader
and observer the attitude Of America
toward the belligerents in the war is
interesting and curious.
In 1887, the treaty of Belgium with
It's guarantors being as they were in
1914. Alsace-Lorraine lost provinces, but
England friendly with Germany because
Germany was not yet the wonderful strong
nation she has grown to be. England
repudiated the Idea of allowing herself
to be involved In war by any violation
OF Belgian neutrality. War was then
believed inevitable between France and
Germany. and THE difficulty of Bel
eium" was discussed by the press. II
was stated by the Government organ
and the press generally that the new
chain OF forts toward Germany made
an Invasion over the right Of way"
probable, and that n "in n sense that
would be wrong II was not at all like
kin the territory. There could be in
IDENTITIES, &c.
The Pan Mdn Gazette said there was
no guarantee. and the Spectator said
England would probably insist on Bel
gium not being made n theatre Of
war. but tina, they would not, indeed
could not. bar troops from traversing
her soil Sanders and Norton in their
recently published book Gin England)
on the relation OF England to Belgium
state that all the evidence shows that
England had never considered herself
obligated TO go to war for Belgium.
From year to year ESSAY after essay
nae appeared on the subject, every lead
ing mag zine taking part in the dis
cussion. livery time Belgium showed a
desire TO he Independent and treat with
Germany as with the other guarantors
England at once expressed resentment.
The guarantee was denied or repudi-
ated or called ar anachronism. Bel
GUM was TO be a buffer for England
and an ally, or was to he considered an
enemy. When Holland began to for
tify FLUSHING. England threatened TO
lake Java, and no forts would have been
allowed in Belgium facing any way hut
toward Germany in the las, twenty
years. In 1914 the British fee, was
mobilized and in the North Sea by
July 10. and that was the real cause
Of the invasion Of Belgium. .
In 1911 England would have plunged
Europe into Just such a war as this
II she had not been able to prevent
France from coming to a satisfactory
understanding with Germany over Mo
rocco. II II IL a wicked war now II
would have been wicked then. Fullerton
in PROBLEMS OF Power tiolS) says
there was no treaty IN existence worth
the pup In the paper on which II was
written. an that England and France
never had Any idea OF keeping their agree
ment with Germany as to Morocco. for II
would have meant economic subJection
IN ten years which 10 TO say c~ynicaily,
what the best and finest English have
said in anguish. that commercial COM
petition mus: not be allowed AZ any
cost.
England has fought with ali the pres
| sure she has, and II Is a pressure he
yond calculation. the opening ot the
orient ny RAILWAYS. irrigation, cultiva-
ton and trade She fought 20 the last
10 retain control in Turkey. She wishes
the Mediterranean to remain what Il
row II. an English closed sea. and she
" shes to control the waterways WHILE
h!ndering any development on land en-
cept IL he absolutely controlled by her.
By endless arrangement entered MO
| by the short . GIFTED politicians of var'-
| on. Countries call them statesmen j.
10 give them 40 dignIied Il NaUc-ov
threats. by br!oes. by a thousand and
ono subtle. inexorable methods used in
every part ~ the world. 50 far England
has succeeded. Bu, does any calm stu.
DON'T wish her success TO he permanent
IL there any American who really wsnes
to see trade conpetition 'Arr't'ed and
| natural development prcyen'ed'
NEW YoRK. June -. VI SSOw,