GERMANY'S FINAL PLUNGE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2994, 3 February 1917, Page 8

GERMANY'S FINAL PLUNGE

The brazen-and 'insolent Note in which Germanj' has informed tho United States of her decision to conduct her submarine campaign withr out any regard whatever for the dictates' of international law has created an extremely gravo situation. Some American newspapers consider that the Note is a direct challenge—almost equivalent to a declaration of war. Germany has now given President Wilson notice that she intends to resort once more to those very crimes at sea which he has described as "wanton and lacking every justification." She bluntly asserts that she will not allow herself to be restrained from murdering American citizens who may bo travelling in a lawful way and on lawful business. Germany brands herself as. an anarchist, out and out. Like a tiger maddened with wounds and driven to desperation,' she. is going to lash out with reckless fury without making distinction between.friend and foe. Her aim is to destroy everything that comes within her clutches.' She wants to stagger humanity, and hopes that by. striking terror into -their-hearts she .will.'compel neutrals to bring pressure to bear on the Allies to stop the war before the fighting resources of the Central Powers have been exhausted. The Kaiser and his advisers have now forced the hand of President Wilson. Thero is nothing Ueffa' to argue about.' He must take prompt and effectivo action. or stand stultified before the world. He must accept Germany's challenge or sacrifice his country's honour and prestige. If Germany carries out tho threat contained in her latest Note, President Wilson must break off diplomatic relations or eat his own words. In the Note sent to Germany in April last the American Government stated:

To its pain, it lias become clear to it (the American Government) that tho standpoint which it adopted from the beginning is inevitably right—namely, that the employment of submarines for the destruction at enemy trado is of necessity, owing to the character of the ships employed awl the methods of attack, which r.heir use involves, completely irreconcilable with the principles of humanity, with the long-existing, undisputed rights-of neutrals, and with the' sacral privileges of non-combatants. If it is. still the intention of the Imperial Government to wage further war mercilessly arid, indiscriminately -■ with submarines against merchantmen without respect for what' tho Government of the United States must -regard as the sacred and indisputable rules of international law and the generally recognised dictates of humanity, the "United .States Government will be finally forced to the conclusion tluit" there is only one course it can tako. If tho Imperial Government should not now, without delay, proclaim, and make effective renunciation of its present -methods of submarine warfare a.aainst passenger and cargo ships, the United States Government can have no other choice than to break off completely diplomatic relations with the German Government..

America, managed to extort a grudging promise from Germany not to sink any vessel without warning and without saving' the lives of those on. board unless the vessel attempted to escape or offered resistance. This promise has often been broken 'and the rule's of sea warfare grossly violated, but the German Government has hitherto maintained the pretence of keeping within the law. Now. she openly declares that she intends to commit ' the foul and murderous deeds . expressly condemned in the American i\oic. bin. is. going to wage war indiscriminately without .any regard for the rules of international law or tho dictates of humanity. 'What reply will President. "Wilson make to this brutal threat? Tho eyes of the civilised world are upon him. It is now his move. The. position is most critical. A report coming from what is described as "an excellent official source" declares that Count Beknstouff; the German Ambassador, has received his passports. Such a. development would not be equivalent to a declaration of war, but it would create a situation which could hardly . bo . prevented from resulting in war. It would mean tho severance of diplomatic relations, and. if Germany's lawless methods of warfn.ro caused the death of American citizens the United States would- havo to fight or be dishonoured. According to tho latest information available at timo of writing, Phesident Wilson has not yet 'taken definite action.' He still appears to cling.to the hope that Germany may be dissuaded from making -her "threatened plunge. The general opinion seems to be that, he .will send fior'nianyj-a Note- .which

will be tantamount to'an ultima-' turn. But President Wilson's foreign policy has beeri so lacking in firmness and. courage, so vacillating and so uncertain, that one canriot be at all sure that ho will now do the obviously right thing whatever, the consequences may-be. Germanv has resolved to be as "frightful", as it is' possible to he. • Her. campaign of unlimited and indiscriminate piracy really means a declaration of war against the whole human race. Now-that she realises that her plot has failed and that, her downfall cannot .be. much longer averted,, she has become stark .mad, and in her fury would set.the world on fire if. she.-, could. • .