BRAZIL MAY DECLARE WAR FATE OF TWO RED CROSS NURSES HINDENBURG AND THE "JUNKERS"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3092, 24 May 1917, Page 5

BRAZIL MAY DECLARE WAR

FATE OF TWO RED CROSS NURSES

HINDENBURG AND THE "JUNKERS"

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS Rio de Janairo, May 22. The President, in a mcesago to the Brazilian Congress, recommended the revocation of the dogroe of neutrality on the ground of the fact that the United States forms an integral part of the American. Union, and the traditional policy of Brazil has always been regulated by perfect ii/nity with'the United States; also out of consideration for the wishes of tho great majority of Brazilians. A correspondent adds that an immediate declaration of war with Germany is believed to lie probable—Beuter. GERMANTIN BRAZIL In several States of Latin America it seems possible that tho submarine blockado of tho Allied and most of the neutral countries may directly or indirectly lead to internal disturbance. It is almost vital for them all to got thenstaple products to European and American markets, and therefore to do their best to end both the blockade and tho war. • In the greater States, in spite of large clement in the population which are of German origin there is less reason for apprehension than in some of the lesser ones. In Argentina the large British and the much larger Italian element may be trusted to make for tho interest ot the Allies, and to keep Gorman intrigues in check. In Southern Chile there is a largo and compact Gorman population; but British Residents in Chile are so numerous and influential, and Chilian interests are so evidently bound up with tho complete reopening of the European market? for nitrates, that we may fairly expect a similar result. The strength of the sentiment of the German residents, indeed, was exhibited' early in 'the war at the banquet to Admiral von Speo after the sinking of the Monmouth and tho Glaigow; but it is a sentiment not likely to influence the oligarchy which governs tho Bepublic. In three States of Southern Brazil—Parana, Santa Catharina, and Rio Grando do Sul—there are from 600,000 to a million of "colonists" of German extraction, aggregated in. German-speaking towns and villages, and' for the past twentyfive years subjected to every possible influence which could arouse in them a Pau-Germnn patriotism. By school teachers scut from Germany, by German priests and pastors, by offering scholarships tenable at German universities, by a German Press, and the circulation of Pan-German literature, and by the influence of the German business men settled in tho towns and the Gorman Consular agents, every offort has beon made to create a State within a State and prepare for a German defiance of the Monroe Doctrine whenever the opportunity may come. How far these efforts have been successful is disputed. The great majority of the German-speak-ing inhaibtants are native-born agriculturists, whose parents, or more commonly grandparents, settled in tho country before the establishment of the German Empire, and against tho wishes of the Prussian Government; and some of tho original stock were Poles and Austrians of various sorts, so that this generation, though speaking, it is said, at least two. Gorman dialects, is oven less "German" politically than tho French Canadians are French. Still, the Pan-German influences above-mentioned and the active propaganda since the war began may have overcome their inertia; and we should not be altogether surprised to hear of a secessionist movementT though it is hardly likely to get beyond demon- I strations in the towns.

HOW THR MONGOLIA ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. Washington, May 22. The shells winch caused the accident on the Mongolia proved to bo relics of the Spanish-American war. i\ T o other ammunition was available.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Two American Red Cross nurses'were killed aboard the liner Mongolia, which was en route to Eivrope. A portion of a bursting she!-' "'nick 11 em while they were watching'firing practice at sea.] .

HOPES THAT THEIR WISHES MAY j ■ BE FULFILLED. Amsterdam, May 22. The Danzig section of the Independent Committee for German peace petitioned General von Hindenburg to annex Belgium, Poland, the French coal district, and a lanro extent of Russian lands for colonisation purposes. General Hindenburg replied that lie ■ hoped these wishes would be. fulfilled— ] Aiis.-N.51. Cable Assn. . f . f I