New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-25
Beck Calls Wilson'S Talk
"Most HumiIiatlng Thing
in Fifty Years"
PRESIDENT A DUPE,
PILGRIMS ARE TOLD
British Consul General
Quits Luncheon Before
Attack on Executive

James NJ. Beck, former Assistant Al
torney General Of the United States, IN
an address before a luncheon OF '"e
PILGRIMS at the Bankers Club yester-
dav characterized President wilson is
suggestion that peace in Europe must
come without victory" as 1.-THE most
amazing and humiliating thing tna' na0
bannened in American history in the
last fifty years"
Sir Charles Give Bayley, British
Consul General, and Commander Ar
thur Temple Blackwood, attached TO tne
British Consulate, having been III,
formed in advance Of the general treha
Of Mr.. Beck's remarks, left the luncheon
before he began to speak. The mem,
bers Of the Pilgrims who remaineo
cbeered the speaker enthusiastlcsily d
he finished his address.
"The Chief Executive OF our country
sneakino officially only to the senate,
bnt in fact. to the belligerent NATIONS
of The entire world, announced as 3
first condition of any future coopers-
ton by the United States in the main,
tenance of peace, that the present "oilu
var nust end in peace without VIC.
tory" Mr.. Beck said. "He adds tnat
In holding IN 10 the world this ideal nc
is Seeking only 20 face realitles'
Mirage, Beck Says
"With all respect TO his great office, !
ASSERT that he is following mirage ano
not reality. In this stupendous war
there can be no peace without victory
One or the other of the group OF ma
tions will triumph, and upon the nat
ure of that triumph the whole welfare
of civilization for the future VIII neccs.
sarily depend. l have no DOUBT Duc
that triumph will rest with the heroes
OF the Marine and Ipres:
at is true, as the President says
that ordinarily a victory imposed upon
the vsnouished leaves behind il resent
ments and bitter memories, which arc
IN calculated TO bring about perma-
nentIv peaceful relations, but the pres
cnt war Is of nature that, IN my
judgment. by no conceivable possipll-
ity can good will come among nations
for at least another generation.
"When a bully starts out TO Duliy tne
world there is nothing TO be, done e.,
cept TO thrash the bully, and no gooe
can possibly come TO civilization IL
those who have been wantonly ATTACKED
should, when they get the upper manu-
of the bully, say to him: Let US no"
compromise our difhculties. Inc cause
of justice and the progress OF manE,ha
depend not upon barren negations' ouI
upon an effective affirmation OF INC
right.
Dissatisfaction in Future
"Pescs without victory would leave
spirit Of dissatisfaction among tue tu-
ropean nations so profound and acute
that it would only be truce. III IS
very probable that revolution Would
rock m ore nations than one.
"A peace without victory would cru.
cifv The cause of international justice
afresh and put it TO open shame. 10
thousands Of Americans. who cannot ac-
cent this ideal Of the President, there
comes the bitter regret that he - IN
this suggestion the unconscious cat
nav of that nation which brought TINS
stunendous horror on the world. That
country realized long ago that II could
not win a conclusive victory. The Ut
most expectation of the Central Pow
ers Is TO make of this war a draw; IN
other words, a peace without victory
"Such a peace would leave Germany
q moral victor, for il would thus escape
the lust consequence of its own chal-
lenge 10 the moral ideals OF CIVILIZATION
"rhe prestige of our country was al
ready seriously imperilled by its refusal
under its policy of neutrality, morallyto
align itself with those nations who are
unfolding the moral ideals of clvlilza-
ton; but the injury now done by the sug-
gestion of our Chief Magistrate in
wolves, in my judgment, the most DIS
astrous consequences to America IN us
relations with its sister democracies'
introduced by Depew
Mr.. Beck was introduced by Chsuncey
NJ. pepew, vico-president Of tho Pill
crirns, who acted a. chairman in the ao-
sence of Joseph II. Choate, who was un.
able to attend because of illness. AZ
the annual business meeting which pre-
coded the speeches George T. wilson
presided. A.
Among the Pilgrims present were Ma
jor General Daniel Appleton, {. Led
ward Blair, Nicholas Murray Butler,
Henry Clews, Robert Grier Cooke
Charles Jerome Edwards, d. II. Gary,
A. Barton Hepburn, Bryan l.. hennelly'
the Rev. William r. Manning, William
Fellowes Morgan, Alton r. Parker, VI.
TAYLOR Pyne, Isaac n. Sehgman, Oscar
S. Straus and Beeknan Winthrop.