The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1915. GERMANY AND AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 217, 20 February 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1915. GERMANY AND AMERICA.

Outside actual hostilities, one of the most remarkable phases of the war has been the action of Germany with regard to the United States, and additional emphasis is lent to this side issue by Hie marvellous special pleading shown in (iermany's latest Note to the United ■States that appears in another column, lu, the one hand we have Germany exhibiting feverish anxiety in the early stages of hostilities to enlist the sympathetic neutrality of America, obviously a one-sided neutrality, having for its object the furtherance of (lermany's cause and prospetcs, while placing l!r:tain and her allies at the greatest disadvantage. It would almost seem "i if lb,. Cerimin authorities had carefully analysed the traits of President Wilson's character, and arrived at the conclusion that he would ; Je as plastic i-.; clay under their skilful manipulation, hut they evidently reckoned without taking into account the bulk of the American people. As .Mr. Charles

C. Tcail, a New York commercial magnate, pointed out to an Auckland reporter, President Wilson is not the American people, who are unanimous in their condemnation of the barbarian war which is being conducted by Germany. However, the President is the central figure of American administra- | tiva action, and it lies with him to decide, at all events in the first instance, a. to what the attitude of the United States should be. 'Unfortunately, Dr. Wilson is not a Bismarck. He did not want to offend Germany, and he desired to maintain cordial relations with Britain, so ho did what many a man in a responsible position has done —temporised. As time went on Germany found that its anti-British propaganda fell flat, and then followed Germany's shortage of food. In sheer desperation - Germany tried bluff, and the Teutonic Press developed an hostility towards the United States that was remarkable for its virulence, ridiculing American neutrality, and plainly hinting at war. President Wilson tried his hand at scaring Britain, but had to climb down, only to be again roused when the war flag was waived in his face. Then Count BernstorlT tried bis wiles on the President, a course which moved the New York Times to state that "there is something pathetic in Count BernstorfT:) appeals to America to cause Britain to desist from interfering with foodstuffs, a.i what the German people are suffering is due to war conditions." Then cam,; Germany's trump card —the submarine campaign against merchantmen, and the notification from Berlin of strained relations between Germany and America. President Wilson, it is stated, it determined to prevent war, and, the United States Cabinet lias decided to notify Britain of its strong objection to the proclamation against foodstuffs intended for Germany. No act could be more puerile, for Britain and her Allies are determined to crush the power of Germany to ride rough-shod over the nations of the earth, and one means to that end is to cut off food supplies and contraband. As to the elaborate attempt of Germany to justify her latest barbaric act of destroying merchant ships, if she thinks that such a course will affect her enemy's determination to fight to th e bitter end, she is greatly mistaken. Xor will the destruction of commerce vessels cause ;■„ flow of foodstuffs to Germany, but it will surely arouse the Allies to greater efforts to attain their object. Tt is sad that the German people may have to suffer privation, but it is inevitable. The. effusive message Uo America will deceive no one. Germany must be hard pressed indeed to ti us disclose her desperate plight, and it is hardly likely that America will be led away by any argument that Germany can bring forward. i