The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1915. "THE MOST FRIENDLY SPIRIT"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2429, 7 April 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1915. "THE MOST FRIENDLY SPIRIT"

The ton© of the latest Note from the United Slates to Great Britain regarding the effect on.the commerce of neutral countries of the blockade which has been established ,by the Allies is quite satisfactory. A cablegram which we publish in another column, giving an outline of the contents of the l*iote, states that special stress_ is laid on the fact that the American representations are "made in the most friendly spirit, arid in accordance with tho uniform candour characterising the relations between the two Gbveiiniients during a hundred years." It is frankly admitted by British statesmen that the Allies' blockade has some ■ unprecedented features, The justification for the unusual.measures adopted lies in the fact that an unprecedented situation has to be dealt with. The Germans have deliberately and flagrantly disregarded the ruies of naval warfare, and their submarine "blockade" of the British coasts .is. being conducted in such a maimer that it can only be described as systematic murder ancl piracy.. . Bin Edward ,Gbbx has placed the position before the United btatjes. Government ; with the utmost plainness and frankness. .The .Germans, ,on their part, have done their utmost from the commencement of the war to stir up strife between Britain and America-. A vigorous and campaign of misrepresentation, has been going on; but, on.the whole, it has been a. Huge failure, though! once or twice the tension has been ..riffier severe. At the beginning of the present year, for instance, a decided strain was plaeecl on the long-standing friendship between the two nations. The London Spectator, in an article entitled "A Great Danger," said that Englishmen could not help feeling "acute anxiety and alarm at the way in which we are drifting towards the danger of a collision with the United States." But it was generally felt at the time that the Spectator had exaggerated the gravity of the position. Nevertheless the outlook was far. from satisfactory. A great war. like the present must inovitably interfere with the commerce of neutral countries, and a certain amount of irritation cannot be avoided. Some i very plain speaking has taken place between the British and ..American Governments. It would,, however, be a- great mistake to think that anything in the nature of a "collision" has been seriously contemplated by either nation. Quito a number of responsible Americans wrote to the Spectator with the object of clearing the atmosphere and making it plain beyond doubt; that American opinion was overwhelmingly-in favour of the Allies. Professor R. B. Perky, of Harvard University, states-that the University community to which ho belongs most earnestly desires that the cause of the Allies—which is the cause of democracy and of civilisation—nia.v prevail. He docs not think that the policy of the American .Government can. lie .fairly, con ; strucd as flc.liberately "playing (.he derman game," but rather as an attajnjit at tixotoiui neutrality. Fci 1 .

sonally, lie would prefer a policy of "indirect and peaceful partisanship." He believes that the fact that unofficial opinion in America should lie so spontaneously and so strongly in of the Allies will, in the jo'ig run, bo much more significant than a cargo of wheat or copper. Over two months have passed sinco Professor Perry's letter was written, and the better feeling between the two countries which now exists shows that "irritation at apparently unfriendly official acts" is not going to he allowed to cause estrangement between . the British and American peoples. The latest American Jfotp indicates a sincere desire not to embarrass Britain and her Allies in their tremendous struggle. It expresses confidence that every possible consideration will be shown to the interests of legitimate neutral trade. It is a striking fact that this relaxation in the strain that recently existed in Britain's relationship with the United States has been accompanied by a growing feeling of hostility in Germany against America. Tiie Germans npw realise that their efforts to secure the sympathy of the United States have been in vain, and failure has made them bitterly resentful. The German newspapers are extremely angry because the American Press Has condemned the murderous and piratical uses to which the Kaiser's submarines are being put. One of the principal organs of the Junkers declares that no threat or measure on the part of the United States can intimidate the German Empire, and the Hamburger Naehriehten warns Americans that if they assist th<j English with their flag as they are with war material "they will'have no cause to fee! surprised if both tHe arms supplied by them and their flag should receive the impress of German military prowess." The latest result of this feeling of antagonism is the recall fi'om Germany of the American army observers. The official explanation of the matter is that their mission has ended. This is no doubt quite tru<) as far as _it goes. But why should their be terminated at the present stage of the conflict? Why should it end just when the war seems to bo nearing one of its most interesting phases from the point of view of tno military, experts? The general belifef is that Germany has requested the recall of the American "observers." No doubt the Kaiser aiid his generals have ceased to desire the. presence- of their American guests, and aro anxious, to get rid of them. The incident has naturally caused a sensation in American military circles, The recall-may not be of much importance in itself, but it is decidedly significant as an indication of the trend of events. Tt is in its way a striking piece of evidence in support of the prevailing idea that the authorities at Berlin have abandoned all hope of inducing the United States to "play the German game." . The Germans are not going to treat American officers as their guests unless there is a good chance of getting a quid pro quo. Any chance of that kind now seems to have disappeared, and acting on the principle that "he who is not for us. is against us," the Kaiser apparently has decided that the American observers must depart. The Germans in their blind extrava : ganpe_ will probably soon be hating America and all things American just as heartily as they hate-Britain and the British.