AMERICA AND BRITAIN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 2, 4 January 1915, Page 4

AMERICA AND BRITAIN.

Much unfavorable comment is being made regarding the recent action of the United States. .The Christchurch Press says: For some time past America has not cut a very good figure in the eyes of British people. When Germany violated the integrity of Belgium, the American Government did nothing and said nothing. When Germany was proved to have committed the most barbarous offences against civilised conduct, and the most flagrant breaches of international conventions to which America was a party, the utmost daring of the President carried him only the length of allowing the idea to be circulated, quite unofficially, that he was not pleased. For the Government of a nation claiming to be of full stature this was not very impressive. And now, when commercial interests apply the pressure, and when Germany is not the subject of complaint, the Government which was unmoved by the appeals of duty and of civilisation becomes alert and alive and hands a so-called "friendly" Note to Britain protesting against any invasion of commercial America's right to smuggle copper and petrol to Britain's

enemy. There is abundance of evidence that a large number of Americans are friendly to Britain and disgusted with the conduct of Germany, but the American Government has act-j ed as if it were only anxious to please the strong anti-British element in the East and the strong anti-Japanese element in the West.