New-York tribune., 1918-02-19
The British Crisis
BY p. w. Wilson
OF the London Doilv Nezcs

H. LINK your newspapers for their con.
tesy to our country during the tbro.-
of the grave political crisis in whic, VIZ
involved. With true tact you are leav;,.
to settle our own affairs, and there ;s %,
one misconception which, perhaps w.,
modifying. In some quarters It is ass,,.-a
quite naturally, that the questions at ;s.a
include what is called "pacifsm" The ,bss1
is that Mr.. Lloyd George stands for v;.
Gus prosecution of the war, while Mr.. Asou;,,
and Mr. Henderson and Lord Lansdowne ar.
"pacifsts at heart
have not agreed entirely with evervtb;,n
said BY the Labor deputation row vs;,;,s
this country, but they have uttered vs.s
useful thing when they tell you tina. A..
'pacifsts' in the United Kingdom ara
mere handful-say, 10000. The total nur,h,.
Of conscientious objectors is only about 10
0O0-1 speak approximateiy-tn in =.
ton where there are over 10000 Quakers, \.
sides hundreds of thousands OF sociar,.
while no can call the Irish Sim Fe;,.,'
'paclflsts.' They are as eager anybody tn
fight at any time, and the only doubt !,
their case is as TO the precise enemy.
Fathers of Sons Killed
Pray do not overlook the fact that ",
Asquith, Mr. Henderson and Lord Lansdowns
are ali fathers of sons killed in this war
That fact is enough in itself to safeguard
them against nsinuations Of tcpidity.
The late Sir William Harcourt once cold
that nowadays We arc all cf US Socialists I,
this academic sense are all of US "pacihsts
at heart" What was it that killed Pitt bur
"pacifism at heart? What was it that drew
deep burrows down the face of Abraham Lin.
coin but "pacifism at heart? What was il
that veiled the countenance of George Wash.
'ngton with a mantle of indefnabe sor
row but "pacitsm al hear? Who would
wish any Of our statesmen to enter or con.
tinue in war like this with what Mr. Olivier
the French Prime Minister in 1870, called
light heart? What gives one confidence in
our cause is just this fact that it has been
THIS espcused by statesmen who detest war
yet wage despite their 'pacitism at
heart Mr.. J. L. Garvin. the London editor
Of The Observer is an imperalist Con.
servativc, if ever there was one. He also has
lost son in the war. and he gently suggests
to MIR. Lloyd George that for such sorrowins
parents there is nothing left save ideals
To hold ideals is not to be pacifist. The
people whom I cannot understand are the
followers of Mr.. Scott Nearing, who promul
gate a glorious magma charta OF international
brotherhood and then leave Prussia enthroned
in Europe. That attitude leaves me simply
ba1led
The Asquith Way
We are told that an Englishman never
knows when he is beaten, and in this re-
spect he is only following the example SCI
by Americans. But, say the Asquithites th.
Englishman ought not to be quite so ignorar
on the question when he mas won. The mes
fact that tl.c German line has not been
driven beck on the Western front is harir
q proof that Germany is victorious Eli
mates on the internal condition of Germsny
differ. 1t should be constant aim to
break up her solidarity from within. if that
be possible Deliver the knockout blow by
all means, but don't employ the phrase (of
great use to German propaganda, and
then fail with your fist afterward That
procedure merely gives to Germany the best
of both worlds. On the one hand, she par
ries the actual stroke. On he other hand
she uses the threat in arguing down her
Socialists. Mr.. Asquith would associate ex-
treme moderation in speech with steady
powerful. yet unsensatonal military press
ure. He will try no short cuts, take no
needless risks; but just go on, day by day
till the enemy has had enough of it and asks
for terms.
1t is the strategy pursued By Wellington
at Torres Nedras and Waterloo But, Of
course, it was not "Nelson's touch 1t was
not Napoleon's idea OF war Nor is it Mr.
Lloyd Georges.
That quick-witted tactician is keenIy cor
scious Of immediate emotions-of hopes
fears, impulses, prejudices especially in
I+,l,
a very doubtful ally. He wants to hurry
decision. His difference with MIR. Ascuith is
thus tcmperamental, instructive; and it mus
be remembered that Mr.. Lloyd George is moi
English. AS France was governed from
! Corsica, are we by an intelligence as
daring as Napoeon's and at the same time
as alien from our national mood This is
why Throughout England Mr. Asquith's prog
ress, when he speaks, is of royal enthusiasm,
In his quiet way he represents a quiet, stub
born race. When Scotland carries trench
II is romantic and thrilling But in Shrop-
shire there are no bagpipcs, no kilt, and
Shropshire casualties go unsung Mr.. As
Quth is the Unconditional Yorks kshireman who
feels with Shropshire. and this is why Con
servativcs rally around him as we'll as
liberals. He asks for no support He tells
everybody to support the government. Bu.
support comes TO nm and he grows daily IN
influence.
The Presidents Vast Influence
President Wilson has now position N
British affairs accorded during lifetime TO
no previous holder of his high office The
emphasis of his last message was on negot-
alton Germany will reply. Ii that ansTsf
appears to President Wilson to necessitats
continuance Of hostilities and even aus.
mentation of military pressure, it would seen
to be useful, from the British viewpoint, thai
the world should be left in 10 doubt of 50
momentous a fact. The President can hardy
be aware Of the extent TO which labor "a
Britain, even in its most restless mood, re-
CARDS him as the world leader OF the forces
arrayed against militaris.I,, and at the mo-
ment, 1t may be that word in the director
of discipline and sacritice-of standing steady
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