AMERICA'S ATTITUDE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16315, 23 February 1915, Page 10

AMERICA'S ATTITUDE.

FRIENDLINESS TO BRITAIN. GERMAN SYMPATHY DENIED. The attitude of tip people of the United States of America in regard to the war was discussed by Mr Charles C. Teail, a director of the Waterman Fountain Pen Company, of New York, in conversation with an Auckland Herald representative on Tuesday night. Mr Teali recently arrived in Australia from America, and ho came to Auckland from Sydney by the Riverina, on Tuesday. "I was very hurt indeed to find in Australia a. popular feeling that tho United States do not side with tho Allies." said Mr Teall, "and I cannot say too strongly how unjust Australia is to America in thinking that we held any regard for the Germans. Since the war Droke out 1 have made four trips lrom Now York through tho States on different routes, and have had unusual opportunity to judge the feeling of Americans, and I can say definitely that, with the exception of the German-Ameri-cans, >tho people are unanimous in their condemnation of tho barbarian war which is being conducted by' Germany. I am complctciy at a loss to understand why Australians should think that we. are inclined to side with Germany. A great deal has recently been said in Australia regarding the message of birthday congratulations which President Wilson sent to the Kaiser. Well, all I can say in regard to that is that President Wilson is not the American people, and, in any case, I think nothing more was meant than an act of courtesy.

"If Australians are in doubt, let them look at what America is doing for the Belgians. At. home ii\ New Yor< my wifo and daughter have been making clothes for tho Belgians ever since trouble came to Belgium, and they are only doing what all the women are doing all over the States. Enormous quantities of foodstuffs have been sent to Belgium from America. "We have sent out shiploads of food and clothes for the Belgians regardless of tho unemployed in our own cities. Then to England we sent Christmas toys for the children of the British soldiers at the war, and tho women of the States have been making mufflers and other warm articles of clothing for the British soldiers, while a great deal of relief is being; given for the families of tho soldiers. Does this look like any ill-foclim; towards Great Britain? Then I will go as far as to say that there is not one American newspaper of any importance that has said one word in favour of Germany. In fact, tht press of America has been more severe in its attacks on Germany than tho press of Great Britain or any other country. In every rrspect I am positively convinced of the friendliness which the States have for the Allies. And, again, it is a positive fact that many Americans have crossed into Canada and have enlisted to fijrht for Great Britain." Mr Teall said thr> German campaign to influence opinion in America, had completely failed. Many attempts had been made "to influence the American newspapers, but there was not one case where the German had met with success. Tho Germans were also carrying on a great campaign in placing their case before the American public through the channel of lectures, but everywhere they failed. When Germans attempted to justify their invasion of Belgium they simply increased tho ill-feeling which Americans had towards them.