New-York tribune., 1920-02-06
Misleading Great Britain

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London newspapers have informa-
tion that bitter anti British cam
paign is in progress in this country.
They warn their readers to expect it
to become worse during the summer.
These newspapers are the same ones
that opened their columns to the
propaganda which presented Presi-
dent Wilson as the whole of the
United States, and thus sowed the
seeds of British disappointment with
respect to the peace treaty.
In November, 1916, a general cleo
tion was held in this country whose
results gave at least hint that the
President had not been given a blank
check or an absolute power of at
torney. Eleven months ago came the
Senatorial round robin. which to
some degree indicated that the Sem
ate existed and still was function
ing. A series Of other events oc-
Cured, all suggesting that no mat
ter how highly this country esteemed
a President he was not yet an auto
crat. If ever there was open diplo-
macy it was practiced by those who
tried to keep our friends in Europe
in touch with American sentiment
But the British press, although
its correspondents in America
must have kept it informed, saw
fit to persist in misrepresenting this
country. 1t spread the false report
that the demand in America for
reservations was hypocritically born
of desire to defeat the treaty by
emasculating and multiplying it. 1t
circulated the myth, fathered in this
country by partisan Administration
clacquers, that America selfshly
wished to stand aloof.
This was severe on those here
who had been most conspicuous in
urging this country to go to the aid
of imperiled civilization--on the men
and women who had labored for
two years and half to get "aloof-
ness" ideas out of the Presidents
head. This element for the greater
part has stiffly insisted on reserving
to this country the right Of judging
when duty called.
Of course, it has not been alto
gether enjoyable to see this position
tortured into what it was not. 1t
would have been better if the British
press had been less eager in behalf
of the Wilson propaganda. Many
in Great Britain have been harm
fully led to the borders of distrust
Of this country by the mendacious
campaign against the reservations.
The truth was accessible and might
we'll have been emphasized.
Now there is similar disservice
to the cause of good relations be-
tween the two English-speaking
peoples by presenting this country
as encouraging an anti-British cam
paign. 1t is more Of a mistake to
assume that Hearst speaks for
America than it was that the Presi-
dent spoke for her. Having COM
mitted one mistake, London news
papers rush to commit another
like it.
1t is not the habit of any country
to devote its main thought to adj
miring another Love of an alien
nation seldom rises to the level of
a grand passion. Many Americans
have no supreme affection for John
Bull, just as there are many Britons
who do not tremble with delight
when they think of Uncle Sam. But
it is doubtful whether at any time
since 1776 the two peoples have been
closer in sympathy and perception Of
mutual interests.
1t does not contribute to friend
ship to exaggerate petty differences
or to accept on-representative ex.
pressions as typical. To do so in.
evitably incites' the foolish, and
there age retorts and chickering's
which are remembered.