New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-12
Nv LORD SYDENHAM
,E,.,;,h Erp,rt on Forti6catio1S and bil''orD
gctSrreJ

the honor of the American natioh nave
often felt doubt and perplexity as the
tremendous drama Of war unfoided u
self and signs Of misunderstanding or
want Of sympathy with our cause
seemed to be revealed on the other sac
Of the Atlantic. We can judge pubic
opinion in the Great Republic only oy
the kilograms from correspondents
which appear in oar newspapers ana
from private letters, which frequently
conflict with the views thus conveyed
II is always difficult for one nation
N read the mind of another, and the
successive fluctuations Of American
opinion in which we are asked to be-
lieve impose a strain upon our imagi-
nation. A great people does not sud
denly change its views in regard 70
fundamental principles without eooo
reason; and from August, 1914 TO the
nresent time there has been no reason
for the smallest revision Of judgment
a. to the causes or the objects OF the
war which was sprung upon Europe.
Pan-German Ambitions
German statesmen and publicists'
military and civil, had for years been
explaining publicly the form winch
Pan. German ambitions had taken. FRO
lessor Roland B. Usher. after care,
ful studv of German aims, summed
them mn as "the most audacious attempt
vet made consciously to direct through
long term of years the evolution ana
the fate of the world
All American readers of his Pan
Cermanism." published in 1913, must
have instantly realized that these aims
we're directed against the liberties OF
ether nations and must lead to world
catastrophe. They could hardly fail 10
understand that their own liberties and
their cherished Monroe Doctrine were
alike threatened. even II they had
omitted to note certain ominous syinp-
toms Of earlier date
II cannot be said that the Germans
concealed their object OF world comm
ion. TO be attained BIZ force OF arms OF
that American observers had neglected.
TO point out the coming dangers; out
TO American students OF afalrs' az "
manv Of ms. il NAV we'll have seemed
;rconceivable that a nation, embarked
on The food tide of prosperity, WIN
commerce and industry advancing by
leans and bounds, would deliberately
set Europe in flames.
Preparations for War Concealed
On the other hand. the Germans did
efectuaUv conceal the vast extent OF
tbc,,s lpreparations for war OF con-
ouest. which have since been revealed,
and Americans must now understand
that they staked all on a short ana
.harp campaign based on their marked
eunerioritv in military organization
and in the colossal arrangements when
they had laboriously built up. Ihelr
homes were not unjustihed, and, but for
Inc Intervention of Great Britain, we
now see clearly that these hopes might
have been realized.
When Britons are told that If there
have been alterations OF opinion IN
America, and if Americans have not
fully understood the causes OF the war
the issues at stake on the present MIL
itary situation, the fault lies mere we
ask ourselves if we are really TO blame;
The Germans have covered the world
with the most mendaciously astute
propaganda ever known. No etort and
no expense have been spared to SOW
discord among the Allies and 70 at
tract the sympathies OF neutrals. Inc
methods of manipulating public opln-
ION which were raised to fine art by
Bismarck, have been vastly EXTENDED.
Historians Will Be Puzzled
=, III -.-io ~ fr+ura historian
to estimate the psychological effects
Of these immense activities, and the
extent 70 which they have influenced
American opinion is unknown to us
We did not sufficiently recognize the
mower of the German element in Amer
lea: nor did we foresee that the Ger
man Embassy at Washington and the
German consulates all over the coun-
try, acting under its guidance, would be
utilized as bases of operations, naval
military and journalistic, against the
Allies.
II is true that we have done nothing
effectively 70 combat these agencies
and our interests may, therefore, have
suffered; but thoughtful Americans
will understand our difficulties and our
natural reluctance TO copy German
methods. II has not been the habit
OF British ministers freely TO give
their views in interviews with rep
resentatives OF the press, and the
American newspapers have been well
supplied with matter thus obtained In
Germany. We may be wrong; but il
Is not easy 20 make sudden break
with established ministerial etiquette.
That our embassy should be used for
propaganda purposes and should give
- l.. "a
behind the back OF their government
would be sbhorrent 70 our ideas.
would Not Force Their Views
Bot another consideration has al
ways been present IN British minds,
though it may have prejudiced British
interests. We have felt throughout
tho war that it might be regarded as
insulting 10 the intelligence Of the
American people IL we attempted 20
force upon them views which they were
we'll able 10 form, and we relied per-
hsps 700 much on the news Of events
which might reach them through ordi-
gary channels
American writers. Ike the late DR..
william White and James NJ. Beck
nave analysed the causes and objects
Of tie war with conspicuous ability
America possesses acute critics who ar.
capable Of sppreeiating az their true
value ths rawlings Of Count Raventlov
and the illusions Of Major Morsnt /.
We are b. blame for negleeting 20 stat.
eur esss before American readers, al
least there ara some eJtenuating cir
eumstances, which Americans will not
be unwilling 70 respect
r. must frankly be admitted that the
successive notes Of President Wilson
and bis recent address 20 the Senate
ks~~ Sr~nfrd q scffeapreaS irourog In n