PASSPORTS AND A PICNIC

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 134, 3 December 1915, Page 6

PASSPORTS AND A PICNIC

No benison has been bestowed by the United States Government on the "Peace Picnic Party." Instead, the ship has been showered with official cold water. One of the irrepressible peace-makers, Mr. Bryan, formerly Secretary of State, is a member of the mission, and it is his fate to be sorely smitten by his successor, Mr. Lansing, who has refused passports to the excursionists except to neutral countries. This means that the Government regards the expedition as quixotic, despite the calibre of the business and educational men who are among the self-appointed envoys. In the official view, the ship has a number of earnest, well-meaning folk, determined to make a pilgrimage at some peril to themselves. They are spending private money on a private enterprise, and the Government does not object to that course, but it will not authorise the enthusiasts to visit belligerents. A report lias stated that these advocates of a premature peace had hoped to get safely within earshot of soldiers at the front, and to persuade them to stop fighting—but that was probably a pen-picture of an unserious American journalist. The Headquarters Staff on either side would not permit such picnic parties to make themselves a nuisance near the firing lines. Probably the organiser of the enterprise will persevere with his plan, within the bounds prescribed by an unsympathetic Government, but evidently the pilgrims cannot hope to make much progress. The whole affair is at a stage now where it probably begins to bore the public outside of America. It was a nine-hours' wonder—and other things press. Europe is very busy.