Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/132



war was being fought, and gave rise to the just suspicion that in several cases at least, very spe- cific advantages had been the controlling incen- tive for entering the war. But these agreements have aroused the greatest resentment because they were in several cases directed against the inter- ests of third parties, and particularly because when the United States was making its enormous and unselfish sacrifices, these treaties were kept from its knowledge. That the American Govern- ment should not have been informed of the secret treaties made at the instance of Japan in which American interests were most seriously affected, and that just after these agreements had been concluded the statesmen who had been closely con- nected with acceding to these arrangements on the part of Great Britain, at the price of the British control of the islands of the South Pa- cific, came to the United States to stimulate the practical devotion there to the cause of the Al- lies, is a fact that will unfortunately help to give munition to those who are unfavorable to any real friendly understanding between the two great English-speaking powers. The secret commer- cial policy pursued by Great Britain during the war is also justly subject to severe criticism as giving food and subsistence to the growth of deep