Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-09-09
AMERICA IN PERIL?
Many Ways Of Dragging It Into
International War.
Carrying Contraband, Amending Reg
istry Laws, Policing Asia Against
Japanese and Maintaining Neu.
traIity Of Panama Canal.
By AN INTERNATIONAL LAWYER

BY AN INTERNATIONAL LAWYER
Washington.-The United States to
day is the only first class power Of
the white race in the world which is
not engaged in war.
Naturally this country is congratu'
lating itself on this fact. But few
Americans realize, however, that their
country is on the precipice and may
be forced into the worldwide conflict
at any moment.
There are many possibilities of in
ternational friction to which this coun.
try is exposed as a result of the Eu'
ropean struggle.
Greatest of all is the danger which
will be run in the carrying of con-
traband after a merchant marine Is
obtained. Danger also turks in the
proposed amendment to the registry
laws.
Almost equally great is the danger
in the Orient, where the United States
must police Asia against the aggres-
sions of the Japanese.
The Panama canal may force the
United States into International dis
putes if the warships Of two or more
of the warning nations meet near it,
and those Of one attempt to escape
from the other through the canal
Possibly the greatest danger will
follow after the war closes. If one
power energies triumphant over the
others in such a degree that it will be
looked upon as the worlds foremost
fighting nation, undoubtedly it will
turn its attention to South America.
The Monroe doctr1nesi is facing its Sc
verest test, .A~Ve
The United States has the advan-
tage, if war comes, Of being able to
feed and clothe herself, as well as fur
nish all Of her building material and
fuel.
The United States has guaranteed a
neutrality of the Panama canal to all
nations. This, Of course, applies to
war as we'll as peace. The ships of
any of the belligerents can use the
canal, therefore, IS oon as it Is
opened.
Suppose that England, if badly de-
feated on the sea, called on Japan
some time next December for a divi-
aion or two Of battleships to go to her
aid, in accordance with the provi-
sions Of the Anglo-Japanese alliance.
Would the American people look with
favor on this?
Suppose a tension exists in the
relations between the United States
and Japan, and a Japanese warship
requested a passage through the Pan
anna canal. 1t would have to be given
it. Suppose that while going through
q lock the forward magazine Of the
ship exploded. by accident, or course,
and put 20 tons OF scrap iron and steel
into the lock, blowing out one gate in
addition. ~ .
Whichever nation energies victori-
GUS from the present European strug'
gle probably will come out Of it as the
strongest power aver known on the
earth.
South America forms an excellent
field for colonization by European
powers. Can all or any Of these coun.
tries stand against the greatest pow.
er on earth, without the help Of the
United States, if asquestion arises? Or
will the United States abandon the
Monroe doctrine and allow itself to
be surrounded by powerful neighbors
with their vast armed might? The
Monroe doctrine has never yet been
subjected to the tests that will result
from the present disturbance Of the
balance of power In Europe.