The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol. 1, January 9, 1915 What Americans Say to Europe

This volume captures early 1915 American commentary on the European war, bringing together newspaper reports, legal analyses, and public opinion. It presents a snapshot of how the United States grappled with questions of justice, treaty obligations, and the ethics of conflict as the war unfolded.

It features a courtroom‑style argument by former Assistant Attorney General James M. Beck, who weighs the legality of actions by Germany, England, Austria‑Hungary and others, drawing on official “white,” “orange,” and “gray” papers. The writing is steeped in the era’s rhetoric about international morality, offering listeners a vivid sense of contemporary debate without venturing beyond the first months of the war.

The book also includes reflections from cultural figures such as Charles W. Eliot, whose observations place the conflict within a broader American intellectual landscape. Listeners will hear a blend of factual reporting, legal reasoning, and moral speculation that brings the urgency of the 1915 debate to life.