The Dominion. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1917. AMERICA'S LATEST MOVE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2995, 5 February 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1917. AMERICA'S LATEST MOVE

The announcement that Count Bekkstokff has been handed his Imports by, tho authorities at -Washington, while the United States Ambassador at ■ Berlin and all American official representatives in. Germany have beon recalled, .will be generally regarded as a fitting answer to Germany's contemptuous treatment of President Wilson's warnings. But it would be unwise to jump to any hasty conclusions as to what the action now taken may! lead to. In face of hie Notes to tho German Chancellor on the subject of submarine outrages and the decision of the German War Lords to prosecute with greater ferocity than ever their inhuman campaign against mercantile shipping and non-combatants of all nations travelling thoreon, Phesident Wilson had no other course open to him than to carry out his threat to break off diplomatic relations. "Such an act" [as that of the President], to quote one writer on international law and rights and obligations connected with diplomacy, "is a marked affront, and is, therefore, a sign of a rupture which only. just falls short of war, and indeed may load to it." On tho other hand, it may not lead to war, and if President Wilson's past conduct is any guide to his future action wo may tako it for granted ■that in the step he has taken he is noD without hope that the threat it implies will induce Germany to modify her intentions to an extent sufficient to warrant a reopening of friendly relations. In effect, tho President's action is in the nature of a final warning; should Germany openly flout this warning America's entry into the war may, be regarded as inevitable.

In estimating the probable dcTclopmenfc of the situation, tho most reliable guide must necessarily be' the view Germany' is likely to take of the.effect of America's participation in the war on the side of the Entente Powers. No regard for international law or neutral rights, and no consideration for tho safety of non-combatants will weigh in the slightest with tho German High Command when balanced against the possible gains which Germany may • hope to realise from a ruthless submarine campaign on the lines proposed. In considering America's ultimatum the only thing that will count with Germany will be whether she stands to lose morn by forcing tho United States into the ranks of her enemies than she will gain by tho unrestricted use oi her submarines. At first sight it must seem almost liko deliberate suicide for Germany to force America to range herself with the Entente Powers. But the prospect o£ this, so far as it a.ffects the imrnodiate future, is not so terrible as it might appear. America is unprepared- for war. She showed her weakness in that roepect in her recent' imbroglio with. Mexico. She ha 3 practically no army, comparatively little equipment, and recent criticism of nor navy has been sovere and damaging. AH these shortcomings can be remedied by a wealthy and powerful nation such ,as ■ the JJnited States undoubtedly is ; but it takes time. Moreover, the Allies have been drawing largely on America for munitions and war supplies of various kinds, and "if America comes into the war these supplies for the time being may be checked. It is true that should America enter the war on the side of the Entente Powers it may be assumed that she would bo desirous of assisting in the general scheme of operations to the best advantage, and that in due course an understanding as to the distribution of munitions would bo arrived at; but thai; again would take time to adjust. Then again Germany, as some people believe, might find in the addition of America and some of tho other at present neutral Powers to the ranks of her enemies an excusii for capitulation, and might hope for more favourable peace terms if America had tho right to a voice in decicling the matter. These considerations may or may not play a. part in influencing Ger-i-many's attitude towards tho .United'

States. Tl, is just, as likely that in diving Prksident 'Wilson to ex- . tremea Ueniiah diplomacy has blundered as i(, has so often blundered :id tbia war. Count .Bernstorfk is reported to have staled, in effect, that, those in authority in Germany must have anticipated President Wilsons action—that no other course was left open to him. Probably it would bo nearer the I truth to say that Germany did not I believe that the pacific President would dare to risk an upheaval in the United Slates, with its largo I clement of population of German descent, by committing his country Iβ War with the Central Powers. Be that as it may Germany has now placed herself in the position that aho must either modify her methods of submarine warfare or face the risk of a new and powerful enemy joining the ranks of her foes. And if America joins in in defence of the rights of her citizens against submarine piracy, who is to say that otticr neutral Powers, whoso liberties have been similarly outraged, will not also add their strength to tho forces arrayed against the enemies of civilisation and humanity? President Wilson, in his'speech to

Congress, hints at this possibility. Fiom whatever point of view tho situation is regarded the outlook for Germany is blacker than ever. A*, the best she must back down in regard to her submarine policy, a course which will assist to discourage and dishearten her people, who have been buoyed up with hopes of terrorising the world into an early peace. At the worst she will add a rich and powerful enemy to her list, and apart from the added tax thus imposed on her. military strength tho moral effect on her people already weakened and anxious for peace may prove a vital factor in hastening the downfall of Prussianism.