The Dominion WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1914. THE "MAILED FIST" POLICY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2226, 12 August 1914, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1914. THE "MAILED FIST" POLICY

Germany's sudden blow for the mastery of Europe, which has already set nearly the whole Continent ablaze, is the natural outcome of the Kaiser's fixed idea that his country is the divinely appointed arbiter of the destinies of the world. It is not only tho domination of'Europo that he is aiming at; ho will be satisfied with nothing less than thesupremacy of the globe—land and water aliko. Only a few days ago a leading Gorman paper, adopting the characteristic style of the Emperor, declared that when the war is over Germany will stand before the world- as its mightiest Power, and bo in a position to give peace, enlightenment, and prosperity to tho -nations. This simply moans thai* Germany is , striving for the ■overlordship of the world, the price of peace being submission to her rule.. Tho manner in which she has openly disregarded treaty obligations to smaller nations during the last few days has provided an objecWesson that is not .likely to bo forgotten. It gives an linpleasant foretaste of what-a triumphant Germany might do. Tho danger of German aggression is of course felt most directly by tho other European Powers, but tho New World also comes within the sphere of the Kaiser's ambitions. There are indications that the United States is beginning to realise that it cannot be altogether, indifferent, to what is happening on the other side of the Atlantic. Tho London JVmc? tells us tliat_ Americans are beginning to see that if Germany should ever obtain tho power and influence now held by Britain American iuterests in the Caribbean-Sea, South America, and the Pacific would be and the. position and freedom of tho United .States as a world Power would bo menaced. The United States, has no desire to see Germany standing "boforo the world as its mightiest nation." Such an alteration in the -balance- of power might be a very serious matter for America. IE the Monroe .riool-vma hHppeiwrJ to bnv tho way. to Gorman exnausion the

chances arc that it would not be treated with any more respect than the treaty rights of Belgium or the neutrality of , Luxemburg. The stringent measures now being taken by tho United States Government to prevent American ports being used by German vessels for warlike purposes indicate plainly enough that America, while strictly preserving her neutrality, has little sympathy with German methods. The President is properly taking effective precautions to prevent Germany from getting any assistance—direct or indircct—from the United States or any of her people. On more than one ocoasioo. the Kaiser lias declared that Germany is tho successor of the Holy Eoman Empire. This is equivalent to a claim to authority over Central and Western Europe. It is true that the Holy Roman Empire was finally overthrown by- Napoleon in 1806, but to-day Europe is faced with a Napoleonic attempt to re-establish it, The Kaiser's policy\is'Napoleonism over, again, as Mr. Bonar Law recently remarked, "but thank Heaven wo 'know there is no Napoleon." It is no wonder that Italy is uneasy,, that Portugal and Switzerland are mobilising their armies, that Holland is ready for war, and that Belgium is fighting for her life. The defeat of the Entente would place tho very existence of the smaller Powers in jeopardy. 'Italy has already been threatened because she has declined to throw in her lot with Germany and Austria. - She denies that her obligations under the Triple Alliance require hor to take part in an aggressive war against Franco, and she is well aware that the triumph of Austria must enormously weaken her own influence in the Adriatic Sea, where her most vital interests lie. In referring to this aspect of tho situation the Times expresses the opinion that Britain, France, and Russia arc not likely to offer opposition to any action that Italy may deem requisite to safeguard her future. It is a very anxious time for Italy, and it is quite possible that before the struggle is over she may bo found fighting with the rest of Europe against Germany and Aus- 1 tria. Italy's interests in the Balkans clash with those of the Dual Monarchy to such an extent that just before the outbreak of the present war the relations between Italy and Austria became'strained, and the probabilities are that the Italians are by no means displeased at the vigorous resistance offered by Servia to Austria's onslaught. The Montenegrins have now joined in the fray, and though' they are only/a small nation their forces will materially increase the difficulties' of Austria who is making very little headway in dealing with Servia alone. At the present time the outlook is so uncertain that it is useless to speculate as to how the' new balanco df power will be arranged when the sword has been sheathed; but it is quite certain that the policy, of the "mailed fist" has raised up forces in antagonism to Germany so powerful that the Kaiser's insatiable ambition may even result in the wrecking of his Empire. / .