The Dominion. MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1917. THE GO-SLOW POLICY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3019, 5 March 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1917. THE GO-SLOW POLICY

'Two more American citizens are reported- to have lost. lives in a, vessel sunk by a Germari submarine without warning. The men in" question wcro sailors employed on the British mercantile steauicf Gilgorm Castle. Will this piratical murder bc-rcgarded by President Wilson us an "overt act," and will Congress support him' .in his expressed determination to take adequate measures to protect American property and American lives? It :is_ worth while recalling President Wilson's words to Congress on the occasion tin which Count -BkrnSTORt'i? was handed his passports and diplomatic relations with Germany were broken off:

I tliink you will agrco with roe, ho •said, that in view of .this week's declaration which suddenly withdraws the solemn assurances givon in. the German Note uf May 4, this Government has no alternative consistent with the dignity and honour of America, but to take tho <onrso which in our Noto relating to the Susies, '1 announced we would tako in thb event of Germany not abandoning tho methods of submarine warfare sho was then employing, and to which she now proposes to. resort. . . . Notwithstanding this unexpected action by Germany, this sudden and deeply deplorable renunciation oF its assurances, given in n critical moment of tension, I refuso lo believe that it is the intention of the German'authorities lo do in fact what they warn us they are at liberty to do. . . . Only actual overt acts ou,their part can mako mo beliovo it. If this confidence on my part should unhappily, provo unfounded, and American ships and lives bo sacrificed in contravention of our reasonable understanding of international laws and the obvious dictates of' humanity, if such overt acts bo forthcoming-, I will coise again to Congress and ask authority to use any ■means that may bo necessary for the protection of our seaman and people.

The crowded Chamber, wc were told, cheered President Wilson's speech, and there was a great outburst ol applause and waving o£ handkerchiefs when ho announced the break of. relations. This was on February IS. Since then wc have seen how far the optimistic hopes of the President were, justified, and how little heed Germany has given to the warning conveyed to her. Not a week has passed without some fresh' evidence coming to light of Germany's intention to carry out her programme of, submarine piracy in defiance of international law, in defiance of the dictates of humanity, and in defiance of President AVilSON' arid tho American Republic. American vessels have been sunk; American citizens have been murdered; American hospitality . has been violated; American laws defied, and America's . peace and security conspired against. Germany .has been guilty of all these things, and what has been the outcome 1 President Wilson has gone to Congress to seek the powers necessary to enable him to act should he feel the circumstances warranted him taking tho steps he had foreshadowed in his speech of February 3. He did not intimate to Congress, in seeking its authority to act, that he had decided to act. All that he sought was the power to do so should occasion demand it. And the Congress" which a month ago cheered his action and applauded so vociferously his professed determination to uphold the rights a,nd protect the' lives of American citidens has hung back and hesitated. The' German conspiracy to embroil Anferica with tho neighbouring republic of Mexico was supposed to have been the-last straw in the scale. of German iniquity which would tip tho balance and throw Congress and the American people solidly on the side of tho President's demand. To some extent this anticipation would seem likely lo bo realised. Our _ cable news to hand at time of writing indicates that the House of Representatives has passed the Bill, authorising the President to arm American merchantmen, by 403 votes to 13; a sweepng majority indeed. But incidentally it may be noted that the measure is said to limit his authority to that particular step. President Wilson sought much wider powers, and the Senate appears to favour granting them, but at the inomeut the limited authority mentioned is all that has been given. It is obvious, however, that though America may be moving slowly, and traversing the same ground many times over, there have been distinct stages of progress towards that final breach which must

I mean war with Germany or a clisj honourable retreat. The authority now given to the President to arm merchantmen marks one of these .stages, and perhaps the final stage preceding active hostilities. Assuin- / ing that (lie President acts on tho i authority given, the situation takes on a more serious aspect than it has yet done. Up to the present, deeds ■have been largely lacking. With armed American merchantmen trading in the war zone frequented by Herman submarines, the possibilities of armed conflict between Germany and America will be enormously increased.