AMERICA & GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2706, 28 February 1916, Page 6

AMERICA & GERMANY

A SENSATION

PRESIDENT SHOWS COURAGE

WASHINGTON EXCITED

•By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

. New York, February -25.. <• A sensation has been caused by President Wilson's attitude. As-the result of German pressure, the Democratic members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Rouse ot/Representatives have - instructed their -chairman (Mr. I'lood) to notify President Wilson that i ?}"■" can . 110 • longer support Jlim in holding that; Americans; hove the right to .travel aboard' vesso's that are armed,', contrary .'.'to ' the German definition. It is believed tho Democrats in the Senate are iri favour of President Wilson warning Americans against taking passages in such vessels ■>

Washington is seethiiig ivitli excitement over the news, showing that Ger-man-American lobbying has Worked up the situation to a climax, in'.which.President Wilson is threatened with revolt by.his own party in both. Houses. 'There ■ is danger .of the . Democratic majorities yielding ,to....Teutonic 'influences directed by Count 'Berustorff. President Wilson is displaying ,unexpected courage. Ho has notified Senator Stone' (Chairman of the Seriate.ComForeign Eolations). and Mr. Flood (Chairman of the^similar; Comniittee.of;the House of Representatives) that his patience in connectionwith tlie Buhmarinss: negotiations -ivitli.' Germany 13 exhausted; and thatilie will no longer endure ia silence; the charges of timidity 'made against liis*-administration. Senator ".Stono .is not. anxious-to break with.,; President .Wilson;''hut.'. believes that German pressure forces him to load the Senate in a fight to secure the warning of Americans, iii order to avoid further .complications with Germany.

RIGHTS OF AMERICANS

PRESIDENT'S VIEW OP THE

POSITION

Washington, February 25. 'An overwhelming majority .of Congress is in favour of, warning Americans to keep off belligerent ( sliips, but President \Vilson refuses to give way and intends to assert the full rights of Americans against the German'contentions. "We covet peace," bo says, "and shall preserve it at any cost, save the loss of honour." " President Wilson, in the course of a Jetter, says: '"Die course whieh the Central Powers have announced that it js their intention .to follow, in regard to undersea warfare seems to threaten insuperable obstacles;; - but it is apparently, .so manifestly inconsistent -with Germany's explicit assurances"th'at:' I must believe that explanations will reveal a different aspect. -I have no reason to question .their fidelity to past promises. . . 1 '.-

No nation or group of nations has the right to alter or disregard principles on which all nations agree for the mitigation of the horrors of war: If the rights of American citizens are ever unhappily abridged or denied, we have in honour no choice what our course ehall be. Personally I will not consent to. any. abridgment ,of the rights of citizens in any respect, and fear to vindicate these rights would be a deep humiliation and the abdication of • our hitherto proud position. "As spokesman even amidst the turmoil of war for law and right, I ' say that if in this instance we allowed expediency to take the place of principle, the door will inevitably be opened to further concessions. , Many other humiliations would certainly follow, and the fiiie fabric of international law. would crumble to pieces. America cannot yield without conceding her'.own impotency as a nation and' virtually surrendering her independenoy among the nations of the world.", • PLOT HATCHED IN BERLIN. WHAT THE HUNS. INTEND DOING. (Rec. 1 February 27, 5.5 p.m.) New York, February 26.* •The Providence "Journal" publishes a statement that the present crisis-re-lative to armed merchantmen is the result of a plot hatched in Berlin. As munition shipments frojp the United States are pending, Germany will attempt to sink every vessel she is able to reach on tlio false: contention that all were' armed on the high seas after leaving American ports. . RESOURCES OF THE EMPIRE ■ MR. DONAH LAW'S IDEAL. By Telf-.graph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. February 27, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 26. Presiding at a lecture'at the London . School of Economics on the agricul- ' tural resources of the Empire, Mr. Bonar Law (Secretary of State for tho Colonies) said wo should like to see the Dominions peopled with bur kindred, but he for one would be sorry to see the best and most vigorous of our people leave these shorbs even:to people the Dominions.' ,He had long cherished the ideal whereby intercourse between all parts ofthe Empire might, be made easier, and by which the standard of living approximating to the best could he obtained for the whole. RETURNS TO THE BAR SIR JOHN SIMON'S BIG FEE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, February 25. Sir John Simon (late Home Secretary) has returned to the Bar. His first brief, at a fee of seven thousand guineas, is in an insurance action involving two millions sterling. Tho case is expected to last six months. . Sir John Simon has to read half a million folios of documents. '[Sir John Simon was in turn SolicitorGeneral, Attorney-General, and Homo Secretary. He declined the Lord Chancellorship. Hi's connection with the National Cabinet ceased because of his views on conscription.} -