The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-14
WARNS OF PERIL TO
AMITY OF NATIONS
Sir John F. Fraser, in Article,
Criticises Policy Of Political
Pin Pricking.
FEARS OPEN ANTAGONIST
Attempts to Dictate Size Of
British Navy One Cause
of Resentment.
Special Wireless Despa,ch to THE sun.

Special Wireless Dsspa,ch to THE Sun.
Copyright, 1919; all rights rsserCed.
LONDON, April 13.--Sir John Foster
STANDARD, criticises the policy Of political
pin pricking which is causing bad feeling
among the French, American and British
and is likely to cause the failure of the
future amity Of nations.
The article IL entitled Patriotism and
Pin Pricking-An Unfortunate War Sc
quel" Sir John writes
why don't people tell the truth?
THE war was fought and won for
noble purposes We believe that And
1t has been proclaimed from ten hundred
thousand platforms. The common suf-
fering of the allied nations was to be a
bond OF eternal amity. We had learned
each others virtues That Frenchmen,
Americans and Britons should have
fought side by side meant that those
who lived to speak OF battle days would
be the best advocates of a genuine in
ternational understanding. When this
struggle was over the heads of States
and great comma nders exchanged tele-
grams OF appreciation and undying ad-
miration for the armies OF each other.
Out OF the stress and sorrow was to
blossom a beautiful brotherhood.
Yet everybody who knows anything
is aware that not In a very long time
has there been such lukewarmness as
there Is now In the three-cornered
| friendship between France. America and
ourselves. Nor Is there as much cordial
ity between ourselves and the dominions
as might be gathered from platform
perorations. Who has seen the British
soldier and the Australian soldier en-
joying themselves together? Is there
any report from Paris that the French
and American officers are In the habit
OF dining together? What are the sto-
ries afoot in Canada that the lads OF
the Dominion were needlessly sacri-
feed in the days Immediately before the
armistice? What are these circulated
In the United States. worse than critical.
concerning British soldiers?
Had we not better stop pretending all
Is well? Let us leave out the exceptions
and recognize the plain facts that some
how or other and much to be regretted
something not far from open antagon-
ism is growing In those quarters least
10 be expected and certainly not de-
sirable.
stupid to Ignore Conditions.
ut is my good fortune TO know
France and America and to be proud Of
my own country and Jealous to promote
the friendship between these three lands
Yet no man OF affairs having an inti-
mate knowledge OF Paris, London and
New York can fail to be grieved to the
heart at the things which come to his
ears.
ut Is well OF course not to exaggerate
1t Is foolish to accept club gossip as
gospel. But Il ie stupid to Ignore a
| condition Of things, which. II allowed to
continue, will be fraught with the grav-
est danger. .---.---- ..-... ..
"In my political days / knew there
| was an axiom that reiteration was the
same as argument. l am afraid that in
| these times constant repetition OF a lie
is equivalent TO turning IT into truth
And the lies that are about In regard to
Frenchmen, Australians. Americans and
Britons are an evil which should be
checked
II do not know that have ever been
| so panied in my life as recently in Paris
to find that the delightful, loving cor
| diality between Frenchmen and Amer
| leans was on the wane. Because have
every reason to admire and esteem both
| countries the growing estrangement was
nothing less than tragic. I dare say
some Prime Minister or Secretary of
State can be voluble about the tradi-
i
France and II he deigned 10 take notice
Of these lines would probably dismiss me
with the observation that / must have
| been unfortunate in my experience. l
| am aware Of the official method OF es-
Gaping facts.
| My experience was unfortunate. but
was 1t different from that OF thousands
OF other people in Paris? I am not the
only person into whose ears Frenchmen
have poured their grievances against
Americans. I am certainly not the only
person to whom Americans IN Paris have
been frank in giving their views about
the French. am not going to repea,
any Of these stories because personally
believe these mostly untrue--untrue on
both sides, but there are tens OF thou
| sands OF Frenchmen and Americans who
do believe these scandalous stories
against each other.
Embitterment seems General.
ITO put IL mildly there has heen p,uch