The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1917. NEUTRALS ON THE RACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1917. NEUTRALS ON THE RACK.

In tile course of his characteristic speech in the Reichstag, the German Chancellor professed much sympathy for the neutral nations who were feeling the effect of the war. Herr Hollweg is always ready to pose as the defender of the helpless, the champion of the cause of humanity, and the avenging power of tyranny (outside Germany). We know, of course, that he is merely playing to the gallery, and he is a past master ii, this art. We may note, by the way, that while the Chancellor professed to be endeavouring to alleviate "to the utmost in our power" the sufferings of neutrals consequent on the blockade depriving them of raw materials, he conveniently forgot to mention that Holland, relying, apparently, on a German promise, released seven of her ships from British ports and ordered them to continue their journey to Dutch ports, with the result that the whole seven were attacked by German submarines, and most of them lost. The fact thac German underwriters have been badly hit over the insurances on these vessels seems particularly fitting. In the face of the wholesale sinking of neutral ships by German submarines, Herr Hollweg had the audacity to assert in the Reichstag: "We are certain that, later, the neutrals will thank us for our firmness, I

Localise the freedom of the oceans we arc gaining by fighting will also secure advantages for them." Could any statement be more outrageous? Sweden, evidently, lias no trust in Germany, fot elie is said to be taking large mcasuren, "for the protection of her neutrality," and the Government, in asking for an unusually large credit, stated that the position was critical. The only violation of Sweden's neutrality that is at all possible, is, of course, the German disregard of her trade rights, and it is possible that behind the Swedish Government's new policy there is an into, lion to offer something more than a verbal protest. The weaker neutrals, however, can scarcely risk an open breach with Germany. Norway and Sweden would at once be included in the general blockade, and the submarines would practically complete their isolation, even if the Teutons attempted no measures against them. Holland and Denmark, of course, would be directly open to invasion by armies far too strong to be opposed, if they ventured to quarrel with their big neighbour; and Spain, the only other possible protestant in Europe, ie too ill-prepared and too poor to entertain thoughts of war. Germany's plan involves something more than the starvation of Britain and France. It is an attempt to close all Continental ports to British ships anu to stop all trade between neutral States and the EnScnte group. Both intentions will hi- defeated, but the neutrals arc bound to suffer seriously while the campaign is at its height. It is Britain, not Germany, who is fighting for the rights of neutrals. The latter have, in their desire to get rich quickly, been trading with the enemy, and have fallen between two stools. Now that they are experiencing what it is like to be on the German rack, they may come to their senses, and refuse to listen to German cajolery. If they are not yet convinced of German duplicity and cunning, lot them ponder at leisure over the revelations connected with Germany's Mexico-Japanese plot, and then they would surely be no longer in doubt.