AMERICAN SENTIMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 129, 24 October 1914, Page 2

AMERICAN SENTIMENT.

GERMAN ACTS DETESTABLE. OUR POSITION REALISED. MIGHT YET INTERVENE. FRIENDSHIP FOR BRITAIN. The manner in which the majority of the people of the United States view the present situation in Europe, and tiie feeling existing there regarding American intervention hi tlie war, were topics discussed in an interesting manner recently by Mr P. IS. Quin, acting commissioner for New South Wales in San Francisco, who is a through passenger liy the -\lakursi to Sydney. Having resided in tlie Californian capital for some years, Mr Quin has had unique opportunities for studying American sentiment on public matters, and since the outbreak of war he has paid particular attention to the views and opinions expressed regarding the outlook on the Continent.

Mr Quin pointed out tat America's population was composed of many varied elements, amongst whom were several who were largely in sympathy with Germany. This anti-Rritish section was powerful, and was carrying on a proGerman campaign with the aid of certain newspapers. It largely comprised Germans and Austrians. Hut, so far as the American descendants of the llritish were concerned, and the Italian, French, Belgian, and Servian population, the feeling was all on the side of the allies to the isolation of the Germans. To these numerous friends of the allied forces the. action of Germany represented all that was detestable, because they illustrated a form of tyranny which was repugnant to the principles of Americana and of those who had mode America their home of adoption. The spectacle of an armed monarchy tramping down the rights of a small, independent, but ancient nation, like Belgium was one that naturally excited the American people to condemnation of Germany's ini'tlrods.

AMERICANS REALISE THEIR OWN DANGER.

"The astounding revelations of the Kaiser's schemes, which app.ar to be nothing Ims then tlie practical ditiiiiriiilion of the world, have caused the people of the United States to realise their own danger," Mr Q.iin declared. "Furthermore, tliey now have a fair idea tli.it, America itself is not to lie deemed lo be excluded from Oeniiany's schemes. They recognise the certainty, for instance, that the Monroe .Doctrine would not he allowed to stand in the way of the Kaiser'.-) progress, say in Brazil, where there are many Germans.

"As for intervention on the part of the United States, it must he understood that the Americans, beneath their materialistic garb, so to ,-pcak, are sentimentalists, or, more properly speaking, idealists. Under certain circumstances they would be quite ready to throw their influence- into the scale on tlie side of the principles of human justice, of what they proudly conceive themselves to be the custodians. At present, however, as far as I can gather from newspaper sources -it not. being a matter on which ollieials would speak—it is felt that the preservation of American neutrality is the object to be aimed at, because the occasion may arise, and that soon, when the United States may be able to intervene with effect." DIFFICULTIES OF AMERICAN I.VTERVENTJOX. Further discus-sing the question of America's possible intervention in the war, Mr Quin said she was not in a position to do very much just now. "S!ie has only a small standing army," he said, "though of course she has an immenso potential reserve which could be called up in tlie event of emergency. Again, the Americans are not a military people. The individual American thinks there are better Holds of activity, and for ambition, than war. This accounts for the smallness of the standing army as compared to the population. " The number of trained men is small, and so the United Slates would not be in a position to intervene on land in the present European coiiliict with any im- j mediate effect.

"If, however, she did intervene, her tremendously powerful navy would bo a I big support at sea, though it seems that the British Navy is strong enough to suppress Germany's naval activity without her aid. MAY HAVE TO KKCivON WITH AMERICAN ARMS. ''The moral cll'cct of the repudiation by America of Germany's methods, if the repudiation wire to be maJe olli.-ially, and the absolute prohibition of any American aid in the way cf exportation'.! of foodstuffs or materials calculated to strengthen Germany's "minds, would greatly tend to bring into the field against the Germans other civilised nations who are at present standing out. "The extinction of the Belgians bv tbe (Jcrmans—the stamping out of an ancient nationality by brute force-—is something to which the United .States will never consent. Sooner or later," he concluded, "the Gentians must reckon with lAnieriian sentiment, if not with American arms. Certain it is that the feeling towards Great liritain in tile United .States is more friendly than at any time in its liistorv."