AMERICA EMERGED

Evening Star, Issue 16088, 13 April 1916, Page 9

AMERICA EMERGED

HAVE VEXED QUESTIONS BEEN SETTLED?

[By Stdnet Gbeenbie.]

[The writer of these articles (of which Joe will ba three) is a citizen of the \Jnited States, who since November has zvvn travelling through this Dominion for r>« purposes of education mid study of our social, political, and industrial conditions. IJe has selected a slow, but sure, method of perambulation —one that without doubt will give, him the truest understanding of New Zealand. It is his purpose, neither to apologise for the stand that his country has taken in regard to her relations with the belligerent nations of Europe nor to condemn the policy she has resolved to pursue. All that he essays to do is lo throw such light on various details of criticism nf the attitude of the United States towards the two Entente* — criticism indulged in both by those who are and who arc not the friends of his native land — as will, he ventures to hope, enable readers of the 'Evening Star' to arrive at a correct judgment, upon her motives and actions. Personally, he recognises nothing but. his Americanism, on behalf of which he is now dirrrtinn his thovgilts and his psri. -Ed. E.S.-\

No. 3,

-At this early date it would seem premature to speak of the United States as having emerged from its difficulties. But I think things are tending to a climax, and that we shall witness one of two result?—the United States will either have to sever its diplomatic relations with Germany, or will achieve an understanding that will ensure her a permanent peace.

—The Invasion of Belgium.— '• Much has been said and •written about the attitude of the United States on the

question of Belgium. It has been at tacked and defended. But I may be per

mitted to state again that at least half of its defence on that sad question is in the assistance it has rendered that little

country, Considering that Belgium existed _hy grace of the three Powers around her, it was to be expected that they would defend her. As far as that defence was

possible she received it, for I could not put myself in a position criticising what England and France have done. The

United States could have done no more, even if it had been incumbent upon it to do no. That legal right of its which kept it oat of the war was the same that gave it the power of assistance. Our own valiant P.cosevelt, who shows his teeth in defence of .Belgium now, saw to it i:i 1907 that .America would not become involved in a European struggle. Here is the section the Senate inserted and of

which he approved: Nothing contained in this Convention shall be so construed as to require the United States of America to depart from its traditional policv of not intruding upon, interfering with, or entangling itself in the political questions of policy . . . of any foreign State; nor shall anything contained in the said Convention be construed to imply a relinquishment by the United States of its traditional attitude toward purely American questions.

And yet what an injustice is done j us when we are said to have been ; afraid of coming to Belgium's as- j sistance. The United States is not in ! a true sense a- democracy, but is a republic. So it is quite" possible for our people to have one opinion and our Government another. We choose certain officers, and to them we relegate the powers of war and peace. But ! the reverse is likewise true. The Government may have one opinion without necessarily being able to stifle the opinions of the people. To have been in the States when Belgium was wronged was to see that phase of our Government in full working order. You little know how we sorrowed with that people. I have myself been a wanderer in Belgium, even as I am a wanderer here to-day. I know a good deal of the country. In no place in .Europe did I feel as much like settling as in Brussels. Belgium, with all her art and glory, was our Belgium. But what was there to do? America could have landed a force without in any way relieving that country in its dire need. America at peace did what America at war could not have done, and the world knows it. "Vigorous protests" with the United States unable to enter into the war and

to back up protests with definite action would be inconsequential, and would have tended cnlv to belittle our country. For the Allies she was doing her best by making munitions; for Belgium she did her best with food and clothing supplies. Is that to be forgotten? —America's Preparedness.—

The question of military preparedness not being under consideration, still I ask : "Is America prepared to enter this war?" Decidedly, she is not. Even if she. had a standing army o' 6,000,000 and a navy as great as Britain's she would, still not be prepared for this war. The nations involved are fight ing for their existence, but they are at the same time solving the problem of Europe. For years this problem has been puzzling us all. It is coming to an issue", and a better and a cleaner Europe will result. With Germany we agree that " the world's against her," and so long as militarism typifies Germany she will continue to find the world against her. With the world against Prussian militarism there, is but one outcome—Prussian militarism must go. And then the world may bo free. —The Menace of America.—

True that this would relieve America of a great menace, but a greater menace would result if America ~ were to take a hand in this European war—the menace of America-! No one has ever thought of this—but it is there, nevertheless. As long as America rests upon her bi-conti-nental oars, Europe can solve her own problems, and no greater danger stares Europe in the face than Germanised South America. Therefore they say we are next—if Germany wins the war. Would you, then, have America begin to keep pace with "military preparedness"? No nation has ever suffered more than from the cancer of militarism, and should | America commence now in this general upheaval to follow the trend of these terrible times her doom is sealed. America has never seemed so wonderful and free to me as now, when with no furore nor frenzy—with the simple garments of lowly human habit—she has" buffeted off the ridicule and abuse, and has clung to her Meals. Never in the history of the world has there been such courage. In the midst of a world in arms ahe has stood unarmed, like Daniel in the lions' den. Courage! Daro anyone speak of cowardice? Courage to face the dan gers threatening ami the abuse pouring down from friend and enemy. Just as history had no parallel to this war, so has it none to our peace. —American Expansion.—

The United States is emerging from this world upheaval with a peculiar triumph. While Germany is doing her best to expand at the expense of the nations round about her, the United States is laying the foundation of an expansion unprecedented in the history of the world. Sho is expanding through co-operation, fche i 9 building up a coalition between the two Americas that will bo based upon helpfulness. The South American nations look on and smile with.content, for they can see themselves partners in a political business with a firm which is seeking to 'jtablish peace on earth not by. eliminating opponent by the sword, but by taking •im into the household of American na-

—America Emerging.—

Already the tfnited_ States is emerging from the abuse and difficulties consequent upon the great European war. Out of 2l of Great Britain's representative men only one has unkind words for ua—and he, too, c man whose worko I have loved fox years —-H. G. _ Wells. I refer to the ' Symposium' in 'Everybody's Magazine.' This i» the firet time that I have had to stand apart 'from Wells in sympathy. All the Other 20 men and' women—scientists.

writers, inventors, and militarists—recognise that if the United States is to emerge at all she must do it in her own. way. Nor do they fail to give her credit for -what sho has already done.