The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1916. PRESIDENT WILSON AND PEACE.

Southland Times, Issue 17749, 2 June 1916, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1916. PRESIDENT WILSON AND PEACE.

Most of our readers, we fancy, read with, feelings of strong sympathy Lord sarcastic remarks upon President Wilson’s unctuous peace talk. Lord Cromer as good as told the President of the United States that the British Empire would be greatly obliged if he would mind his own business, and that that is the feeling of the British people is hardly in doubt.... “As Note succeeds Note, - ' wrote Lord Cromer, “and speech succeeds speech, fhe conviction is gaining ground that Mr Wilson wholely fails to grasp the views of the vast number of Englishmen upon the cause for which the Allies are fighting.” That statement is absolutely true. To be quite frank the British people do not understand President Wilson’s attitude at all. He rarely refers to the war, or to America’s part in it, except in somewhat grandiloquent language, in which he clothes high thoughts about , human ideals and the aims and ends of civilisation. The United States never had a better President than Mr Wilson so far as highsounding phrases are concerned, but what baffles the average Briton is to reconcile the President's high-sound-ing speeches and his lofty conception of national duty with his complete refusal to admit that the United States is In any way concerned with the causes or the objects of the war. With respect to peace Mr Wilson puts forward ideal conditions of international relations, and properly Insists that the United States is as much interested as any of the belligerents in obtaining terms of peace, that will establish these relations in the world. Yet, if that is so, why does President Wilson not throw the powerful weight of America upon the side w r hich -is fighting for the maintenance of these ideal relations. If these relations were established. Belgium, despite its great military neighbour, would he as safe as the United States, and Serbia would be as secure as Russia. Through no fault of their own both Belgium and Serbia are at present under the heel of the conqueror; they lie prostrate under superior weight, and in the British Empire at least no one can understand a man in President Wilson’s position merely talking about the restoration of Belgium and Serbia when he might do something to assist (hose who are fighting for it As Ixjrd Cromer pointed out., the British people listen patiently to President, Wilsons polished phrases and to fine enunciation of the highest, principles of civilisation and humanity, only to be struck dumb with amazement by his statement, the very negation of everything he has previously said, thai America is not concerned with the causes or the objects of the war. Speaking years ago with reference to the neutrality of Belgium. Gladstone uttered these words:—"We have an interest in the independance of Belgium which is wider than that which we may have in the literal operation of (ho guarantee. Tt is found in the answer to the question whether in the circumstances of the case this country, endowed as it is with influence and power, avou ld quietly stand by and witness the perpetration or the direst crime that ever attained the page of history and thus become participators in the sin.” Gladstone's words were prophetic. In August, 1914. Britain was faced with the question and had to answer yea or nay. There was no hesitation about the answer. and Britain was at war with Germany

within a few hours. Rut Gladstone's question was a question for (tic United States as well as for Britain, and so far President Wilson has done nothin? hut talk round it and over It, evading it all the time, and covering up his evasion with fine words. Well may Lord Cromer express some doubt whether the British nation would accept President Wilson in the rol<= of mediator. As a matter of fan there, is no doubt on that point. It is doubtful if President Wilson understands the, British mind, and the British mind certainly cannot give Mr Wilson that place in its esteem which it would like to give to the President of the great Republic for which it has the friendliest feelings, and which was dedicated by some of the greatest patriots the world has ever known tp the cause of liberty among nations and among men.