The Dominion WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1918. THE WEAKER BRETHREN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 291, 28 August 1918, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1918. THE WEAKER BRETHREN

The tests of national spirit to hich Spain has been subjected durig the war period have done noting to enhance her reputation. In le early days of the German subarino campaign, which from tho itset was visibly an 'attack upon te rights of humanity as well as i ml fighting against the Allies, the -boats were enabled to freely visit ie' Spanish coast to obtain suplies. Even when external pressureid combined with a certain nount of internal agitation to >mpel Spain to pay some regard i her duties and obligations as a jutral,' she continued to follow an iglorious course. She has tolerated ie destruction of her shipping, the rippling of her maritime trade, /en tho cold-blooded murder of her wizens, without venturing upon ny bold attempt to secure redress, rior to the events which have been i.ven some ■ attention in the cablerams of the last day or two she ad not ventured upon as much as bold pro'cest against Germany's bominajile tactics of pira<s and lurd&r. To be exaot, when the forie/r Liberal leader, Count Komannes, framed such a protest his acion was speedily disowned, and he f a-s compelled not long afterwards 3 retire from office. If Spain at his stago should break with Germany, or even go the full length f joining the Allies, it could not or-a .moment be forgotten that her lolicy during the' last year or two as been one with' which no united ,nd self-respecting nation would ave been' content.' The very fact, iowever,_that Spain has been in an xtraordinary degree accessible to Jerman influence and has failed so gnorainiously to defend the lives -nd property of her citizens would nake her action,' if she now venured upon an open break with Gernany, not a. little significant. Tho Icrman newspapers which arc payng assiduous court ' to "knightly ipain" fully realise the importance if a rupture of , relations. 7 orwaeris sums up tho • fears that ire general in urging tho German jovernment to prevent Spain joinng the Allies "and so completing ;he coalition of the world against 3erinany." _ ItS would certainly bo i striking sign of the times if Spain iurned from her spiritless submis>ion to German outrage to a policy roro consistent with national hon)ur and interest. She would bring 10 great accession of strength to the Allies, but her adhesion, or! even a diplomatic break between her and Germany, would in a very definito sense round off the world coalition which is pledged to bring Germany to defeat. Surely nothing more is needed to complete that coalition than the addition of tho country which of all others has been most deeply penetrated by German influ-' :nco and has submitted most tamely to Germany's criminal attack on human rights. From this aspect a break between Spain and Germany would bo at once a striking vindication of the Allied cause and a noteworthy addition to other evidence that the_ tide of war has turned finally_ against the Central Powers. Spain long ago had just cause for going/to extremes with Germany, bub her friends and enemies will alike agree that she is unlikely to take action in defence of her violated rights until sbe sees an assured pr'ospeot of doing so with safety. These being tho merits of the caoo, quite exceptional interest attaches to the indications now afforded that a break between Spain and Germany is distinctly possible. what'foundation exists for the fears that are being freely expressed in Germany it is impossible at the moment to say, but there does not seem to bo any doubt that tho German Government is in an awkward dilemma. Yielding to tho Spanish demand for a modification of the

methods of submarine piracv, it would openly admit, notl to Spain only but to the whole world, that fcho submarine campaign had entailed an indefonsibie violation of international law and tho moral law. Apart from the larger questions raised, Buch an admission might-well stimulate to action even tho northern neutrals whom Germany has ■ thus far been able to overawe bccause she is separated from them only by an imaginary frontier lino, or by a sea whioh hasbecome temporarily a German lake. On the other hand, if sho refuses satisfaction to 'Spain that country may take the logical course of severing diplomatic relations and so demonstrating to the world that the methods of tho modern Huns are intolerable even to a country they have contrived practically to shape to their own liking. On this point, at least, no doubt is possible. If Spain now belatedly takes an honest stand in defence of her rights her action will mark tho failure and defeat of German corruption, intrigue. and propaganda in a country wnere they had tho freest possible play.

It has not escaped the German commentators who are now casting anxious eyes on Spain that any stepon her part hostile to' Germany is likely to heavily influence such of tho Latin-American States as .have not yet clearly defined their attitude. The Yossischc Zeitvng observes that if Spain breaks off relations tho movement will carry to Spanish South notably the Argentine and Chile, which would involve irreparable economic loss. This probably docs less than justice to some at least of the LatinAmerican republics. The movement which' makes for the consolidation of the® countries into an allianco definitely opposed to German pene- , tration is developing on its morits

—the political changes in Colombia reported to-day are the latest indications of the it is by no means impossible that other Latin republics than those which have already declared for tho Allies may yet givo Spain a lead in boldly facing the issues of the world war. But there is no doubt that Latin republics liko Argentina, and Chile are united in bonds of interest and sympathy with Spain, and that any decided action by Spain would be likely to strongly influence _ these countries, just as similar action by tho Spanish republics would be likely to influence their parent State. It is as true of Spain as of the Latin republics which still maintain 'relations with Germany that the forces which oppose a break are trom tho local standpoint antinational, as well as hostile to the Entente and the principles for which it stands. It is. of course, possible that the fears now expressed in Germany arc premature, and that in Spain and in some of the Latin republics which _ have yet to define their attitude bribery, corruption, and intrigue may still serve for a time to raise obstacles to tho adoption of a straightforward and honourable policy. But it is natural enough that as the prospects of the Allies grow brighter countries which Germany has kept in subjection by the combined effect of intimidation and intrigue should show an increasing disposition to cast off her toils and th-ir own fears and to espouse the cause which is plainly just.