New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-20
Drastic Action Will Be Nee
essary in Dealing with
Foreign Born, He Says
Universal Drill Urged
Financiers and Officials Cheer
Ex-Ambassador at Chamber
of Commerce Luncheon

Necessity for drastic action IN deal
iI,g with the nations foreign-born pop
ulation in the event OF hostilities was
pictured yesterday by James W. Ger
ard. former ambassador 10 Germany,
in an address at luncheon given IN
his honor by the New York Chamber
OF Commerce.
The big auditorium of the commerce
body's quarters was crowded to It's
capacity when the former ambassador
entered soon after noon accompanied
by President f. II. Outerbridge. Those
present rose to their feet and cneered
until Mr.. Gerard. with a suggestion Of
a blush about his checks, waved his
hands for them to cease.
Among those present were leading
fnanciers. business men and city OH
ciels. ]. p. Morgan. A. Barton Hep
burn. Charles K. Flint, Cleveland H.
Dodge. Dock Commissioner K. A. G..
Smith and Borough President Marks OIL
Manhattan were III tiIc '''N VI
who shook MIR. Gerard's hand after
his address.
Speedy Action Necessary
what shall we do with this big for
eicn.born population in the event OF
war;" he asked. This is Of the ut
most importance and cannot walt Tor
an answer. Shall we permit them 10
oo about at will. TO blow up brogeS'
set fires. or do anything else they ma!
decide in the interest OF thelf goNei"
ment?
ouastsred Whether we shall place
srcb aliens in concentration camps ana
dasI with them as they do abroad is
. matter that must be acted upon I'M
Tnad;ateiv after the nation goes into
u,sr should this unhappily occur
Mr. Gerard then took up the neceS-
sitv for universal training ana pre-
naredness for any eventuality.
~ hadn't been in Germany long pc
foro | discovered that the language
beld no equivalent of the English word
.eficient'6 said Mr.. Gerard. ut WASH I
long before learned why that was me
case There is such wealth Oh ell
6ciencv in everything German tha'
they have no Use for the WORD the!
have the fact.
"To a great extent that is due to
/ their military training. 1t IS the oeSi
sort of training for a nation ana
+ because of the lack OF II we stand TO-
dav in a position not entirely pleasant
Universal Preparedness Urged
81 know it isn't the fault Of the
/ President. whom | respect and admire
/ He must have the support OF the PEG
nile in order to make this or any other
big move a fact. The best thing you
gentlemen can do is TO 60 out and be
come missionaries for universal pre-
paredness.'
Mr.. Gerard said the danger Of
country becoming militaristic was only
the result of giving the higher ONCE
70 the upper classes. Equality OF op
portunity, he said, would prevent tina
here.
At the beginning of the European
war. he said, the military commander
had taken over the government OF Ger
many in every detail. lie said tina
such matters as the length Of won
ans skirt were decided by an army OF
ficer.
Mr.. Gerard said that he was delight
ed TO learn that the tariff question ap
peared to have been taken out OF th'
realm of politics and placed. as sci
entiiic topic of study. in the hands Of Z
commission. He told how ingeniou
use of railroad rates in Germany haC
made it possible 70 discriminate
against American products. even where
high tariffs were not charged.