WASHINGTON'S NEUTRALITY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 132, 5 June 1915, Page 10

WASHINGTON'S NEUTRALITY.

The discussion on. American neutrality has led. to the exhumation of the following historic statement by Washington :—: — " Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure", you to believe me, fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constenity stwake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government. But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial. ". . . . The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign relations is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connections as passible. Europe has & set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote, relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudea of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities. " Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. . . , " Why forego the advantages of bo peculiar a situation? * j ''Why quit our own ground to stand j on foreign ground? " Why, by intertwining our deatiny with that ' of any part of . Europe, entangle ' our peace and. prosperitjr in tire toils o/ European ambition, rivalahip, interest, humour, or caprice?"