New-York tribune., 1915-02-15
Germany Against the World.

The Tribune said on February D Ihd' 'he N'i
man Admiraltys "war zone" order was the
crowning blunder Of German diplomacy. Every
thing that has happened since then has confirmed
that judgment, The German threat to torpedo
neutral vessels entering the waters surrounding
Great Britain and Ireland, instead Of proceeding
AGAINST them under the existing rules of interna-
tional law governing search and seizure OF neu-
trails suspected Of carrying contraoand, has out
ragged neutral opinion the world over. 1t was
niece Of fruitless arrogance Of which an inteiil-
cent and cautious diplomacy could never have been
guilty.
The trouble with German diplomacy Is that for
rnsnv years back II has been neither Intelligent
nor cautious. After Bismarcks dismissal II grad
psIIv lost that foresight and breadth Of view
which made the great Chancellor's successor pos
sible. Bismarck framed his policies with foreign
orinion and the obvious interests Of other nations
IN plain view He did not worry about the effect
Of his dinomacy on German sentiment 50 long as
he was sure Of its effect IN the world outside
He felt his way carefully and played one outside
interest against another before he struck In
that way he isolated Austria-Hungary In 1865
and France in 1S7o-71.
His successors have followed another course.
They have given far less study to conditions and
the drift of sentiment outside Germany and
shaped their diplomacy 80 as to make 1t appeal
instead TO German pride and consciousness OF
power. In that way they have helped TO unity
Germany. But at the same time they have unified
foreign opposition and driven powers Ike Great
Britain. France and Russia 10 ignore former d.
versties of interest and to unite for purposes OF
protection.
In the field Of foreign relations Germany has
taken too often to the bad practice OF "rattline
the sword in the scabbard." Her Morocco policy
was an instance in point German interests ir
Morocco were negligible. Most Of her Statesmen
knew this and knew also that the true field fol
German expansion lay in and through Asia Minor
Yet for the sake Of snowy and useless assertion
Of German authority the Kaiser brought on tht
crisis which definitely pushed Great Britain int
an entente with France and Russia. German iso
lation was dangerously emphasized after Agadir
and all that the government gained was th
strengthening Of the conviction in Germany tina
the only issue cut Of the empires difficulties la
In resort 10 war.
The "war zone" proclamation was anothe
"rattling of the sword IN the scabbard" in re
sponss 10 national feeling. Germany is consume
with o desire to strike at Great Britain. He
keenness for revenge tempts her to strike blindly
without regard 70 the injury she may do to neu
trails. She has no adequate means Of enforcin
the policy Of isolating Great Britain which sh
L. IL
fotillas excepted-cannot keep the sea and estah
lsh q real blockade. She cannot check neutrs
commerce with Great Britain TO any material ex
tent II she observes the ordinary rules Of searcl
and seizure on the high seas. She is therefor
obliged 70 resort 70 novel methods of intimidation
The waters around Great Britain and Ireland ar
legally free to neutral vessels, but German.
wants to scare them off by warning that thes
waters are war area in which they are likely t
fall victims to carelessly discharged torpedoes.
The assumption that Germany, with only thirty
three submsrines-few Of them capable Of operst
ing on the west coasts Of Great Britain and Ire
land-can establish a war zone" hundreds o
miles in extent and the threat that neutral vessel
may be torpedoed without any preliminary inquir,
as 10 their neutral character may seem ratlonaI Z
excited German sentiment. But the outside wor
will never see It that way. No challenge to tn
neutral nations which have tried TO observe thei
obligations to Germany could be moro ill-judge
or more offensive. "The moro enemies the NOR
honor" is a phrase which has gained q consider
able popularity recently in the Kaisers domin
ions. The war zone" proclamation is In keeping
with the defiant spirit Of that phrase. II adheret
TO in all its Implications 1t cannot but convert tn
neutrals whose commerce It threatens into enemies
But even in that case it would only be in harmon.
with that blind and perverse diplomacy which ha
been operating for years past to array German!
against the world
The Burden of the Pull Crew Laws.