EFFECT OF AMERICAN ENTRY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 27 April 1917, Page 6

EFFECT OF AMERICAN ENTRY.

WiTfing on, America's attitude to the war just after the breach of diplomatic relations, Mr. T. P. O'Connor sand: "I have never lost the hope that before this war was over we might see every free nation in the world joining in the hunt of the mad dog. Apart from the effects of America's action on neutral countries, I look with confidence to its effect on the German people themselves. Be j it rememberd that there is not even i a small village in Germany which is without relatives and correspondents in the United States. The association between Germany and America is accordingly intimate and continuous, practically daily through letter and I newspaper and relative. After all, their insane self-conceit, the Germans are an intelligent and educated people, and assuredly it must have some effect on their belief in either the justice of their cause or the chances of their armies to find that the greatest of neutral countries, in spite of the ' millions of their blood among its citizens, has come out decisively against them. I look to this declaration of

America as being to the Allies of as mvjch worth as the winning of several big battles. Next to the pressure of famine, it is the most demoralising factor yet brought against the staying power of Germany in this year's fighting. I find there" is speculation on the part which America may play in the conference that must follow the war. With obstinate optimism Germany may look to the entrance of America into that conference as likely to bring advantage to Germany. It is palpably the most delusive of hopes. What can there be in common between the brutal arrogance of German lutoeracy and German militarism and ;he pure democracy, with all its denocratic ideals, of such a country as he United States?"