, 1922-02-01
THE UNITED STATES is NOT
THE MORAL DEBTOR
OF EUROPE

Bishop Edgar Blake OF the Method
ist church in France and Italy is nov
in this countr, and he has made a
number of statements regarding the
sacrifices of France and the compar-
alive immunity of the United States.
France was shedding blood while
America was coming money. The
allies furnished men; America furn-
ished money"
The Rev. Mr.. Blake is an American,
and he is talking to Americans who
may soon pursuade themselves that
the United States is the moral debt
or to the rest of the world. Their
should b a decided resentment of this
point of view in the Unitd Stats.
American self-hespect should not toll
crate it. 1t is a reflection upon Amer
leans who suffered in the war and it
is injurious 80 the country. 1t might
affect American position and Ameri-
can action.
OF all the nations engaged in the
war the United States alons had no.
thing to dc with its causes, INT of
all the winning nations the United
States alone won nothing from vic
tory. The causes of the war were
more distant from American life that
h scene of 1t was from American
shores.
It sprang naturally out of the ira
ditions, the rivalries, the diplomacy
n intrigues of Europe. Europe was
accustomed to lighting sue wars. 1t
had dynasties and governments which
prepared for them, armed for them,
and sought occasion for them.
The people of Europe had not
brought about a state Of government
which could prevent them or showed
much willingness to do SO. The peo-
pie Of Europe knew they lived by
military alliances. They maintained
great armies and navies. They were
in conflict with each other in pushing
towards new lands and taking over
new territories.
When it was not one nation which
was the dangerous agressor it was
another. 1t was a restless, ambiti-
tious, dangerous scheme, known to
be such, and war after war had been
produced by it. From these expansive
=, schemes and military alliances and
secret treaties the United States was
free. The people of Europe either
supported or tolerated the scheme of
rivalry, threat, and danger. The re-
sponsibility was upon them, but Am
orleans could say neither yea nor nay.
The United States could not tell
France. Italy, Germany, Austria. Rus
STA, and Great Britain that armed
claim jumpers woul& get into trouble,
and did not need to tell them. Their
history told them that, and the size
CT their armies and navies indicated
that they were prepared for it.
They knew the natural consequence
es of their plans and operations was
war. France, GreatBritain and Ger /
many nearly had 1t Owe Moth Africa.
It'y Eot it with Turkey over North
Africa. Austria was bound to get it
with Russia over the Balkans. The
Balkan nations got it. The scheme
produced. as it was expected to pro-
duce, a great war.
In this war the United States could
have ruined the allies by closing its
markets and placing em%bargoes on
munitions and foodstuffs. 1t was the
one great fear the allies had that the
German element in American citizen
ship would succeed instopping trade
with Europe. The benevolent neutral
ity of the United States was all then
that the allies asked, and they knew
their salvation was to be found in
American industry. What was then
necessity to them is now regarded
as a shame to the United States. Some
Americans are beginning to believe
that the allies were fighting for the
States and that America was
withholding its men while it made
money by selling goods to its defend
ers.
It is a nations duty to avoid war
SO long as it possibly can. II is the
moral duty of a government to avoid
war il It can be avoided. When war
for the United States could no longer
be avoided, in the opinion of the
American government, it was under
on a scale regardless of men OF
The American army was in what
was virtually one great offensive. In
offensive, which was the final
one, the American casualties were
II, 900 dead and nearly 100000 wound
cd. That was a sacrifice to what the
made in the unsuccessful