Evening star., 1925-10-11

Sir Edward Grey, rests on his citations OF
American action during tho Civil War and
his willingness. II need be, to submit disputes
to arbitration. Unless some influence that
do not now foresee comes in to play q part,
this government will stand on that contention.
1t will conduct the blockade favorably to us
as they can bring themselves to do; but they
are persuaded. perhaps overpersuaded. that
the economic pressure on Germany Is their
strongest weapon. Public opinion here takes
that view more and more decisively. and mem
bers OF both parties that form the coalition
government have committed themselves to this
belief. Since they are willing to submit their
action to Notwithstanding the risk Of
other Alabama award-they hope to get
through this basis. I think did a good
stroke in drawing from Sir Edward Grey his
note declaring his willingness to submit to
arbitration. This seems to me our real triumph
so far In the controversy.
The trouble that the controversy gives you
they follow and share. They know the Hoke
Smiths and the other agitators. and they have
their share of alarm. But Il Think they are
going to keep up their economic pressure on
Germany at all hazards. Tho public will rend
the government II 1t does not.
Yet thoughtful men here know that Great
Britain will como out Of this war at the best
with great financial and commercial embar-
rassment and at the worst practically bank
rupt along with all the other European gov
ernments. and they know that the United
States will have a prodigious advantage over
any other country for generation or two,
which (barring some great misfortune to us)
will mean a prodigious advantage for all time.
They wish. therefore. to stand close to US, for
selfish reasons. reasons Of self preservation,
as we'll for reasons Of civilization-the
preservation Of AngloSaxon institutions and
aspirations.
II We get through this war amicably with
the British. they will be more friendly to us
than they have ever been since we have not
only the largest English.speaking white popu-
lation. but will have the start also definitely
toward financial and commercial SUPREMACY
Their predominant financial grip on the world.
which Is their main grip. will be gone. And,
though they have not lost their virility. they
have never acquired efficiency. They are
slow and unadaptable and tradition-ridden and
classridden yet.
X X X
On any street corner in London you have to
buy one afternoon paper from ono man, another
from another and third from a third. 1t has
never occurred to any man to sell two or
moro papers. 1 passed two men the other day
In the country each trying to coax a horse
hitched to a great load OF hay up a steep hill
Each horse had more than It could pull. said
why don't you hitch both horses to one cart
pull that up and then come back and get the
other cart in the same way" After a moment
of surprised silence and deep thought. one Of
them answered, We've never done that. sir" :"
and he went urging his horse up inch by
inch. That night at country hotel, lighted
by electricity, they charged me for candles.
But had no candles"
Yes, sir. but we've always done that"
These little experiences explain the lack Of
munitions six months after the munition works
had been begging for orders. They explain
the effort to take the Dardanelles without an
army. They explain the postponement Of con-
scription. although everybody knows that
England will have to put her last available
in the army. The amazing thing is the
men who sell only one paper each continue to
sell them, the men with tho carts do get up the
hill, the hotel landlady got my money for can
dies, the government Is getting munitions at
last, and the Dardanelles will be taken even
If all Egypt has become a vast hospital for
English needlessly wounded. In none Of these
activities however, has the Engshman had
the direct competition Of the Yankee. When
he encounters that. goodbye, John. And