Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-21
BY JOSEPH P. TUMULTY,
CHAPTER XVI.
(Continued.)

| mand that England should pc
brought to book for the unreason-
able character of the blockade which
she was carrying on against our
commerce on the high seas. The
president in every diplomatic way
possible pressed Americas claims
against England, but these demands
| did not satisfy the German sympa-
| thizers throughout the country, VINO
| covertly sought to bring about
real breach between the two coun-
| tries. Even I felt that we should
go further in our demands upon Eng
| land than the president seemed will
| ing to go.
| The pressure upon us at the White
House for satisfaction at the hands
| of England grew more intense with
each day. I recall a conversation
had with the president shortly be-
fore the congressional elections when
the presidents political enemies were
decrying his kind treatment OF Eng
| land and excoriating him for the
stern manner in which he was hold
| ing Germany to strict accountability
for her actions. This conversation
was held while we were on board
| the presidential train on our way to
the west. After dinner one day
| tactfully preached the subject Of the
| British blockade and laid before the
| president the use our enemies were
making Of his patient action toward
England. My rank criticism deeply
aroused him. Replying to me he
pitilessly attacked those who were
| criticising him for letting up on
| Great Britain" Looking across the
| table at me he said: 81 am aware of
| the demands that are daily being
made upon me by my friends for
more vigorous action against Eng
| land in the matter of the blockade;
am aware also Of the sinister po-
| litical purpose that lies back of many
| Of these demands. Many senators
and congressman who urge radical
action against England are thinking
only Of German votes in their dis
| tricts and are not thinking Of the
| world crisis that would inevitably oc-
cur should there be an actual breach
at this time between England and
America over the blockade"
Refused to Hamper England
Then looking squarely at me, he
said: "I have gone to the very limit
| in pressing our claims upon Eng
land and in urging the British for
eign office to modify the blockade.
| Walter Page, our ambassador to
| England, has placed every emphasis
| upon our insistence that something
be done, and something will be done,
| but England, now in the throes of a
| great war crisis, must at least be
| given chance to adjust these mat
| tiers. Only a few days ago Mr.. Page
wrote me most interesting letter,
| describing the details of a confer
| ence he had had with Sir Edward
Grey, the British foreign secretary,
| to discuss our protests against the
| British blockade.
| Mr.. Page described the room in
which the conference was held, on
the wall Of which was hung as a
memorial the $15,0O0,000 check with
which Great Britain had paid the
Alabama claims in the Civil war.
Mr.. Page pointed to this Alabama
check and said: That may be so,
but we will pay every cent. OF
course, many Of the restrictions we
have laid down and which serious
ly interfere with your trade are I'M
reasonable! But America must re-
| member that we are fighting her
fight as we'll as our own, to save
dare not press us too far" Turn
ing to me, the president said: "He
was right. England is fighting our
fight. and you may well understand
that shall not, in the present state
of the worlds affairs, place OBJ
stacles in her way. Many of our
critics suggest war with England
in order to force reparation in these
matters War with England would
result in German triumph. No mat
ter what may happen to me person
ally in the next election, I will not
take any action to embarrass Eng
land when she is fighting for her
life and the life of the world. Let
those who clamor for radical action
against England understand this!'
Lusitania Is Sunk
While the critics of the president
were busily engaged in embarrass'
ing and "hazing'' him at every point
and insisting upon Showdown
with Great Britain over the block
ade, the world was startled on May
7. 1915, by the news of the sinking
of the Lusitania, off the coast OF
Ireland, resulting in the loss of many
American lives. A few days later
came the news that the German peo
pie were rejoicing at the fine stroke
. Of the submarine commander In con
summating this horrible tragedy.
The presidents critics, who a Few
davs before were assailing him for
his supposed surrender to England
were now demanding an immediate
declaration Of war against Germany
but not for q moment did the presi
dent waver before these clamors. To
such an extent did he carry this at
titl1de Of calmness and steadiness OF
nr1rnose that on 1.-The outside" the
neople felt that there was in him q
heartlessness and an indifference &c
the deep tragedy of the Lusitania. Al
NV first meeting with him L tfleo
To call to his attention many OF
the tragic details of the sinking OF
the great ship in an effort to force
his hands, so to speak, but he quick
lv checked what appeared to be my
Youthful impetuosity and said: IuIll'
ultv. it would be much wiser: LOT
us not to dwell too much upon theSe
matters" When he uttered this an.
monition there was no suggestion OF
GOODNESS about him. In fact, ne
seemed to be deeply moved as
diverted to some of the facts sur
rounding this regrettable and tragic
matter. At times tears stood IN ne
ewes. and turning to me he sald: Ii
Wondered over those tragic items
that daily appear in the newspapers
about the Lusitania, should see
red in everything and am ARRAY I
that when I am called upon TO acs
With reference to this situation
could not be just to any one. l dare
not act uniustly and cannot indulge
NV own passionate feelings.
Horror of the Lusitania
Evidently he saw that his turning
away from the topic in this appar
emily indifferent way did not sit wei
with me. Quickly he understood my
| diSsa tisfa ctinn and said: II Suppose