AMERICA AND THE ENEMY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1522, 14 March 1916, Page 4

AMERICA AND THE ENEMY.

If America will not help the Allies, will she help the enemy ? asks Mr Arthur Pollen. Many and specious efforts will be made to get this help. There are three forms of action which can give it most effectually. If Congress forbids merchant ships from arming in self-defence the power of submarines will be enormously enhanced. It is to be presumed that no settlement will be made that does not stop submarines from sinking at sight. But if many merchant ships are armed, submarines will not dare to approach any on the surface. If, then, they are cut off trom sinking at sight, their occupation will be largely gone. Next, Congress may forbid the export of munitions. But in this matter the Allies have the commercial interests ot the ordnance-makers as a strong bulwark against a proGerman policy. Finally, America, having refused to condemn the lawless actions of Germany in Europe or to help Christendom in its new crusade, may be urged to show its impartiality by trying to relieve Germany of the burden of our sea siege! Already we have received Notes from the Secretary’s Department couched in language far more brusque than any addressed to Germany. Doubtless if the letter of the law is more important than its spirit, the new conditions of modern sea hostilities leave much of our action unprovided for by international precedent. Should America break down our seige she will be doing as much, and more, for Germany than if she forbade the export of rifles, guns and shells. She would be assisting her in point of fact to escape from a form of military pressure from which her own military and naval forces are inadequate to relieve her.