The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1917. THE ROLE OF AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3094, 26 May 1917, Page 6

The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1917. THE ROLE OF AMERICA

The most sanguine results anticipated would seem to have followed upon the visit of the Allied missions to America. The position is summed up by_ M. Viviani in an assurance to his countrymen that they can count upon the United States exercising- their'full material and moral strength! in the service of right. The confident declaration of tlw French statesman will help to promote an understanding in both Allied- and enemy countries of .what American participation in'the war really means. . It must in honesty be admitted that such an under'standing was not immediately reached, and probably even now there are many peoplo in Allied countries who fail to realise'the full value and importance of American co-operation, as well as many people in. Germany and in hey vassal States who have not. yet realised what a formidable addition America is to the list or. their enemies. In all Entente countries and in most neutral_ States the- entry of America was hailed as the moral climax of the war—as an event splendidly vindicating the Allies, and finally condemning Germany as the enemy of humanity and civilisation: But the material importance of American aid was in general passed over lightly or under-estimated by Allied commentators in the days immediately following the passage of the war resolution by Congress. This frame of mind was largely due to a 'widespread hope, almost a definite •belief, that America would not be given time to bring her vast material resources effectively to bear in the war. The turn of events in Russia has somewhat impaired this hope (though the prospect of effective Russian co-operation is now again improving), but it has at the same time emphasised and brought into clear view the real value and importance of American co-operation.-. This is true in more respects than one. At worst, and if the war should be lengthened out, the presence of the United States in their camp gives the Allies -an assured prospect of indefinitely increasing the superiority in fighting power which they are,now exerting, against the Central Empires. The official declarations ofjitho President and Congress of thcjUnited States, backed already by \ material assistance on a generous scale and by plans and preparations for its indefinite extension, can' bo taken to mean nothing else than that oven if Russia should fail her Allies the latter can roly upon America to the bitter end in their war on Prussian autocracy and militarism.. At the same timo, America by reason of her constitution -and moral standing in the war is supremely qualified to influence Russia and keep her faithful to the cause in which the Allies are fighting. ' , . Doubt as to tho relatione which America stands to the Allies is impossible in tho case of anyone who has followed President Wilson's speeches since tho decision for. war was taken, a*hd "other evidences afforded of the spirit and united determination of the American people. The matter is nowhere better summod up than in tho resolution passed by both Houses of Congress which authorised and directed tho President "to tako immediate- steps not only to put tho country in a thorough stato of defence, but also to exert all of its power and employ jill of its resources to carry oiv the war against the Imperial German Government and to bring the conflict to a successful termination. It is no limited or'half-hearted war programme that is hero set out, and all that America has since none is in-accord with th<Tlctter and spirit of the resolution. In its financial , and shipbuilding measures, in the matter of naval co-operation, and in its'definito plans for naval and military, co-operation on a.' vastly greater- scale than is yet possible, America is assisting and preparing to assist the Allies to an extent

which exceeds all expectations, and i evidence is not lacking that in for- 1 inula ting their impressive war pro- c gramme President Wilson and his ,' Government are solidly backed by f the approval of the nation. It is e true that in the House of Reprcsen- a tatives fifty votes were cast t against the _ war resolution as s against 373 in its favour, but it i was well understood that the vot- i ing of tho minority was in tho na- c ture of a formal and almost mean- i ingless protest by "men who aro \ quite ready, now that the die has 1 boon cast, to fall into line with tho i overwhelming majority of their < countrymen. Congress shortly 1 afterwards passed without a single s dissontiont vote the "Seven Billion 1 Dollar Bill," which appropriated 1 over ■£800,000,000 for the war pre- I parations of the United States, ' and. over £600,000,000 for loans to i tho Allies. The voting on this mea- 1 sure was 389 to 0 in the House of ' Representatives, and 84 to 0 in tho ) Senate. It is mentioned in tho ' hews "to-day thai the United States ' Government has denied passports ' to American Socialists who desire J to attend tho Stockholm Socialist Conference convened to discuss tho question of peace. Tbo incident emphasises two facts. One is that the Amorioan Socialists who oppose the war are an .'inconsiderable minority who would misrepresent the American democracy if they pretended to speak in its name. Tho < other* is that the American Government is determined not to play Germany's gamer by facilitating tho dis- . cussion of peace terms, even in the circumstances proposed, while that country is still intent upon tho criminal objects with, which she entered the war- How far the American Socialists' are from representing organised labiur in the United States is exemplified in the fact that its recognised national leader, Me. Samuel Gohpers, has expressed its desire and intention to do everything it can in the defence of the country, " , , At the moment particular interest attaches to the part that America may be expected to play in influencing Russian opinion. Considering this vital question it_ must be recognised .that the essential issue raised in Russia is not whether sho should or should not insist upon the Allied war aims being modified in this or that particular, ' but whether or.not she is to persevere in assisting to overthrow a military autocracy which embodies every vico of- : despotism arid has sought _to play the part of a triumphant criminal in international affairs. Giy-" ing tho weight it deserves to this vital distinction it may be said in all sincerity that if Russia were to break with the Allies.over any question of detail the fact would afford proof not that the aims of the Al- ' lies were unjust but that the Russian democracy was not yet capable of attaining coherent expression or ■ a coherent policy. If anything will enable Russia to do her manifest duty to herself and to her Allies it is the fact that the greatest democracy in tho world stands defin- ' itely with these Allies in their essential war aims. America's object, 1 as stated by President Wilson, is ' to vindicate the principles of peace ' and justice in tho lifo-of the world '■ as against selfish and autocratic I power, and to. sot' up among the ! really free and self-governed, peo- ;■ pies of tho world such a concert of ; purpose and of action as will hence--1 forth insure the observance of those 1 principles. . This' is* a declaration '. which tho Allies aro in a position ; to unreservedly endorse, and which Russia also must endorse unless at ', tho cost of proving that the se'em- , ing freedom sho has won in revolu- [ tion is a hollow sham. Some of tho i questions regarding annexation , which have been raised in Russia r may afford-scope for practical dis-j . cussion, hut Russia cannot allow I any question of this nature to dii, vert her from steadfast and unrei lenting opposition to Gorman' aub tocracy without becoming the vict tim of a moral tragedy. American I influence, directly and indirectly r brought to bear, is probably by iar r tho most potent- of all the external r influences tending to avert this trail gedy. In the speech which has been - quoted, President Wilson spoke of f "the great generous Russian people 1 . . . added, in all their naive, - majesty and might, to the forces 3 that are fighting for freedom in tho 3 world, for justice, and for peace. D Here," he said, "is a fit partner for e a League of Honour." We' may a take it for granted that it will not - be Amerioa's fault if this partner 1 is. lost to the Entente'm& to the '" cause of humanity.