EX-PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ON BRITAIN'S MIGHT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 239, 5 January 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

EX-PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ON BRITAIN'S MIGHT.

Recently the weekly paper 'Answers' sent a representative all the way to America, to interview Colnel Roosevelt, tho ex-President, on matters relating to the w:m\ He is fired with indignation against the Germans, and his views are necessarily coloured with tho bite-mess of realisation that his own country has failed to do its duty. ''So it was" (says the interviewer) "when he was considering the certain course of action which Lincoln would haw taken had he been President of the States in August, 1014, that Roosevelt abruptly »wung round to the facts on record. "To those persons who. fifty yea's ago, cried out for peace without regard for justice or righteousness, for trie peace of cowardice, Abraham Lincoln answered in words that apply as pointedly to-day as they did to the thou situation.

"Said Lincoln: ''The issue before .is ix distinct, simple, and inflexible. It ..- an issue which tan only lie tried by war and settled by victory. The war will cease on the part of this Government whenever it shall have censed on flic part of those who began it. We accepted war rather than let the nation perish. With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the rigr.t, let. us strive on to finish the work we are in, an.i to do all which may achieve a just and listing peace among nations!'

"Surely," went on the ex-Pivsident, speaking with an emotion he made no attempt to conceal, "with the barest change of a few words, all that Lincoln said applies now to tire war the Allies are waging on behalf of orderly liberty and self-government for the peoples o r mankind. They have accepted war rather than let the free n'ations of Europe perish. They must strive on to finish the great work they have taken in hand and to accomplish a lasting peace which shall redress wrong and make free the liberties of the peoples who have been assailed by Germany. AMERICA'S FAILURE. ' " In this crisis I hold that we, as ;i nation, have signally failed to do mr duty by Belgium—ay, failed in our duty t<> ourselves. In this crisis I hold tliat the Allied Powers -ire standing for iust those principles to which Abraham Lincoln said this lountry was dedicated.

"The rulers of Germany have done wrong in Europe: they have committed wrongs against, the Unit, d States n the shape of wholesale, assassination amongst non-combatant-;. Yet we har? people in the States who are willing to applaud a 'peace' to be. obtained by

conceding victory to the wrong-doers. It. is also a curious commentary on tne attitude of the rulers of Germany that at the moment when tliey are forcing thousands of Belgian citizens to aid in the manufacture of the materials of war to bo used against their own countrymen, they ara also protesting against tho United States manufacturing the game materials for the use of those who are seeking to frea Belgium and other nations from the dreadful hostility of which they have been the hapless victims."

Colonel Roosevelt understands perfaetly some things which persons in high positions in Germany have difficulty in grasping—namely, why neutrals spenk so much about German militarism. Roosevelt considers Germany not only the sole militaristic tuition—prior, of course, to the outbreak of war —hut holds that in all the Allied countries the lack of military preparation was altogether relative. "That the French system of const ription was superficially tantamount to the popular idea of militarism, I admit; but in fact, and as reviewed by present-day circumstances, France was only less unprepared to engage in war than her moiv securely peace-lulled neighbours." And Mr. Roosevelt lias no illusio?is as to the future of these war .night peoples in t-o far as adequate, permanent, and efficient armament after th? war i«i concerned.

'lt is always very hard, and always will lie very hard." went on the exl J resident, " to make a democracy prepare in advance against dangers which only tic tar-lighted see to lie imminent. Even in Frame there were wellmeaning iiicii who, but a Ivw years ago, did not realise the danger that hung over their heads and over their beloved land, and who then strove against adequate preparation. "In Britain, winch was by no means in the same immediate danger as Franco, there were far more of these men, just as there are far more of them in America than in Britain. '"France has learned her lesson in the Inrd school of invasion and necessity; Kngland has been slower to learn, because the war was not in her home territory. Frame has shown a heroism and a loftiness of soul worthy of .loan oj Are herself. She was better prepared ili:,n either of her Allies, and from the iir-t month of the war she has done everything that it was in human power to do. Tie- unity, the quiet resolution, th • spirit of self-.sacrilico among her peoph—soldiers and civilians, men :.nd women—are of a type trulv noble.

Frenchmen are not only a gallant but a generous race, and France realists that Britain and Ru-ssni are now both bearing their share of the burden in the same spirit that France has borne hers.

"Russia's sufferings haw been sore I,,it it is impossible to over-estimate Ku-sir/s tremendous tonicity of pur-

post' or powers of endurance. Russia is mighty, and the future of thig nation looms so vast that one can scarcely calculate its possibilities. The Russian peoplo feel this to be their war." 1 was waiting with great eagerness to hear what Mr. Roosevelt would say about the tremendous .share iu the conflict played by the British nation, i hadn't to wait long. "To her Allies England lias more than kept the promises she made. She has given Russia the financial assistance that none but she could give; her money effortg all round have been unparalleled in all previous history. "Two years and a half ago no Frenchman would have expected that in the event of war England would be able to put more than two or three hundred thousand men into France. "Tho soldiers of Britain have done their duty fearlessly and ,well; they have won high honour on the fields < f horror and glory; they have displayed tho same gallantry and stubborn valour that have been so evident in the armies of France and Russia and Italy.

"Her e.omen are working with all the steadfast courage and devotion and self-sacrifice that the women of France have shown.

"The British Navy, too. was mobilised with a rapidity and efficiency as great as those of the German Army. In all history there has been no such gigantic and successful naval feat accomplished as that, by the seamen and shipwrights of Britain during the past two years

"Now, having said all this, let me point out that, always excepting her naval performances, Britain has been less effective than she should have beei in tho use of her strength since the outbreak of war. This is because she had not prepared in advance, because sho did not accept tire advice of Lord Roberts."

This statement obviously opened up interesting possibilities, and I therefore made haste to inquire if Mr. Roosevelt meant that adequate preparedness for war on the part of Great Britain would have materially shortened the present conflict. Statements ■ f this kind I .had .seen repeatedly in American papers since my arrival, but thus far I was unaware that the exPresident hd subscribed to them. NO WAR IF His own explanation of what he meant showed that indeed he did not agree with those views. As a matter of fact ho went far beyond anything that any other man in America has ever said, cither in speech or print. "Shortened it?" ho echoed. And then he paused just long enough to giro emphasis to what followed. "If all the sons of Great Britain had been trained under a system of universal service," he said slowly and deliberately, "and if it had been clearly understoo 1 that in war-time neither undue profit-making by capitalist* nor striking by workmen would be tolerated, there would have been no invasion of Belgium, and no long-drawn and disastrous war!" It was almast in the nature of an anti-climax when the stern-set features of AmefvVa's greatest man Suddtenly relaxed into an engaging smile, and he 1 added :

" Nine-tenths of wisdom consists in being wise after the event." -Maswor-ainC s zv"g"-br flfl-whL