The Domionion. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1915. DIPLOMATIC TERRORISM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2639, 9 December 1915, Page 4

The Domionion. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1915. DIPLOMATIC TERRORISM

It is not surprising to learn that the action of the United States Government in dismissing certain German military attaches is resented by the authorites at Berlin. They pretend to think they have a grievance. They have oven entered a protest, and asked_ for an explanation. The Amerioan Secretary of State (Mr. Lansing), who is a master of the language of diplomacy, has forwarded a reply to tho effect that the attaches have been dismissed because of their "military and naval activities. Put into plain English, Me. Lansings answer nieans . that the United States Government has been compelled to get rid of these conspirators because of tleir unlawful acts, their shameless abuse of America's hospitality, and their scheming and plotting to defeat the efforts of tho Government to prevent violations of the laws of neutrality. It is surprising that action has not been taken long ago_ to put a stop to the nefarious activities of these German and Austrian officials. These men have been emboldened by the disinclination of the authorities at .Washvngton to make a decisive move. Their plots and intrigues bave become more impudent and more outrageous, until'.'the evil has now assumed the proportions of a public danger, and it has become absolutely necessary to grapple with it. Not long ago a sensation was caused by the disclosure of the contents of an intercepted letter from the Austrian Ambassador (Dr. Duiiba) to his Government. This letter gave a startling insight into the ramifications of the German Secret" Service. It revealed a deliberate attempt to create industrial strife and to encourage crimes of violence in the United States for the purpose of helping the Central Powers and injuring the Allies. The' Government insisted upon Dr. Dumba's recall for conspirmg to cripple legitimate industries, and for "flagrant violation of diplomatic propriety." Recent trials have resulted in further disclosures, and it is stated that many high Austro-German officials are likely to be arrested on grave charges. America claims to be the guardian, in a special sense, of the rights of neu-, trals. She now has an opportunity of proving that this guardianship does not morcly consist in tho writing of nicely-worded diplomatic dispatches, but involves effective action. "One has merely to imagine, if one can," says the New York Evening Post, "what would happen to an American diplomat who should seek to start a strike in the Kbupp works for the benefit of his country, to see how scandalous the, Dumb a plan was."

The activities of Gorman agents in some other parte of the world are far more aggressive and audacious than those which are causing so much trouble in America. Germany's treatment of tho smaller nations has been absolutely . brutal. Since the outbreak of the war her diplomacy can only be described as systematic terrorism. She has browbeaten the Swiss, bullied' the Swedes, and threatened the Dutch. By threats and promises she won over tho Turks and Bulgarians, and sho has so oharmed the Greeks that they hardly dare call their souls their; own. German agents are carrying, on their intrigues in Greece in the. most brazen manner. They are buying support and playing upon the fears and ambitions of the people. Both Greece and Rumania seem desperately concerned about being on the winning side. It may be taken for granted that Germany has let them know that if she wins she will inflict a terrible punishment on them should they be found on the side of her enemies, whereas if the Allies were victorious the probabilities are that mercy would be shown to the vanquished. Germany's representatives in Persia appear to have adopted tho role of ruffians and bandits. The Persian authorities are quite bewildered by the difficulty of their position. They do not know what to do. It was recently roported from Teheran that German agents had lavished money and arms m every disaffected region of Persia. The German Consul 1 , at Kermanshah, a town about 160 miles I oast of Bagdad, exeroised military authority over that province, while a section of the National Council, corrupted by German gold, frustrated the efforts of the Cabinet to maintain neutrality. Britain and her Allies have been slow to realise the necessity of taking more effectual steps to counteract the farreaching effects of this carefully organised system' of diplomatic frightfulness." The progress of ■events in the Balkans has made them see that their methods have hitherto been altogether too mild to cope with the enemy's methods of bribery and terrorism. The Entente Powers havo now to make it clear that they are not going to permit the tear of Germany to be the allimportant factor in deciding the choice of neutral nations now standing on the brink of war. It is imperative that they should put more vigour into their diplomacy, 'and make use of tho enormous pressure which they are in a position to exert. They .mu'st make it unmistakably "Icar to all whom it may concern that they have the power to 'reward their friends and punish their foes, and will not hesitate to use it.