The Dominion WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1915. "PREACHING POLTROONERY"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2489, 16 June 1915, Page 6

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1915. "PREACHING POLTROONERY"

Mr. W. J. Bryan's resignation of his position as United States Secretary of State is not likely to be followed by any startling change of policy on the part of the American Government. The Note to Germany which caused Me. Bryan to resign is so mild and cautious that it is difficult to see how it could give offence even to tho most extreme pacificist. . If Mr, Bryan had resigned as a protest against the weakness of the Government's attitude his action would have been easy to understand, but it is really astonishing how any reasonable man could have persuaded himself that President Wilson was likely to do anything that might lead to war except under the gravest provocation, It is stated that Mr. Bryan was in favour of a Note "'which would in no circumstances involve the United States in grave complications." Such a communication would be treated with contemptuous indifference by the German authorities. It would not be worth the sending The United States might just as well let the world know that its desire for peace was bo strong that it would not even take the neccssary steps to protect its citizcns from deliberate murder on the high seas. Mr. Bryan seems to think that the Americans who lost their lives by the torpedoing of the Lusitania were almost as much to blame as the German pirates who sank the vessel. He plaintively ask.i "why Americans should be permitted to involve their country in war by traversing the danger zone in a belligerent nation's ship." It is nothing -to him that the passengers by the Lusitania were going about their business in a perfectly legitimate way, and that the action of their assailants was a direct and gross violation of the law of nations. What would Mr. Bryan think of a Judge who, instead of sending a highway robber to prison, informed the victim of the assault that if ho had stayed at home or travelled by some other road the crime would never have occurred? Mr. Roosevelt is thoroughly justified in characterising the attitude adopted by the peace-at-any-price people in regard to the present war as "preaching poltroonery." What possible hope can any rational being entertain of inducing Germany to mend her ways by. the method of "passive persuasion" 1 Unless America makes it quite clear that she will if necessary adopt a policy of active retaliation, she need not expect to obtain much satisfaction from Germany. The new Soeretary of State (Mr. Robert Lansing) is a cautious and diplomatic politician. He is not at all likely to be responsible for sensational developments. His point of view is probably very similar to that of the President. He was, no doubt, responsible for the wording of the Note which resulted in-MR. Bryan's resignation. _ As originally drafted the communication appears to have been more direct and imperative than in its final form. This may be taken as an indication that Mr. Lansing's appointment may tend to give more firmness to America's attitude towards German outrages. As Counsellor for the State Department, it has been Mr. Lansing's duty to write the various Notes which have been sent from Washington to Britain and Germany during the present crisis. The President or Secretary of State would explain the Government's policy to him, and he would find the arguments to support it and embody it in appropriate, diplomatic language. The Xew York I'osl. tells us that the Counsellor, with expertness and accuracy, transforms the case outlined to him "into international law with a clearness, and lucidity of style and a directness of purpose which not only serves the people of the United States well, but at the same time pleases his immediate superiors immensely." It is true that his latest effort did not please ,Yln. Bryan, but it may ho hoped that he will serve his country in his new office as well as he served his superiors in his former position. He should have no difficulty in settling down to his Ministerial work, for he has often been Acting-Secretary of State, and lias frequently sat in Cabinet 111 the absencc of Mi:. Bryan. Mr. Lansing is described as a quiet, modest man, thoroughly human in thought and action, kindly and sympathetic. He will now have lb? Dpnnrt'"nito' 'f "PpVUih . f he<.t< excelleat -qualities la we duties at-.

tached to the high and responsible position to which he has now been called at a critical juncture in tho world's -history. AVill he be able to stiffen President Wilson's foreign policy '! The tipectalor recently described the President's attitude as (i "tragedy," because it involves silence or neutrality on a moral issue. It practically means that the Government is bound to be silent on a moral issue lest thoy should appear to b? taking sides; it must not speak out in flvour of virtue, of sound morals, and of freedom lest a neighbour be offended. George Washington' declared in 1793, while war was raging in linrope, "If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to sccuro peace ... it, must bo known that we are at all times ready for war." He also warned his countrymen that the rank due to the United States among nations would Iks withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation for weakness. This far-seeing statesman knew that persuasion to be effective must have power behind, combined with the determination to resort to force if necessary.