New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-02
The Threatened Pro-German Move
ment in American Politics.

-, .l,, ,o,-, Of WOW OF practical results the
- =, ,r,or;car circles about es-
WV ,"'' ,.-..,;,o. ,,-,. German organization
;u., ,,,l.,;os does no; need to he
"'.U -.'., ...a,no \ crusade bv Ger
'''' -. ~ .,c .,no General Won Bern
,,bo, 10 called then, American
'" ~ $780,, h.. o.. ONO or Gerr1anv's
"e."''.' .,..-......o,s, 81, co,,,oi, this GOV
po'''"' anu 49, .,,.,ro,.,,. motley which
e'"'.'..' -. ,ro,,o,,ic allies might be
"o"'u ~ .,..'..... .r, .4i,,. Conducted under
yer! u@e ....,.,:.. ,,o~o r,ractised Sc
cover II pO''''l' .,;s.,.- ,rd orcanizations
're''! anu pa ,,..L ,fol1owirr
were "'e',''''1 ..s.r.rr,. o,,,rIo,ed bv the
inc .'''''. - -. No,birc ,artv) some
'ou''ue's ,.;,.,, No ,orror,zed and STAN
II. 'o"S P'''''''
Peu'" .,.l,;. COW, oncratcd in the
.. ro.. harmless American
op'" .,,o,.o .bor. work Of a polit-
oo''''' .;- .i,t, oh,.io,,s alien connections
,bi.b co,,ld No, defend itself against the charge
Lo-a;u.t;r, tbc interests Of the United
Co.. -, ,boso Of . foreign nation.
r.. .l., .,o ,,b';,it,, given to their plans
---.....u.o;. -. doroo, tbon, does not. however.
...ons or ,b;e brozcn "Deutschland
,u..,, ,,,o,..r,ort j., America. The intention
-, dosn;cabla mission which Won
-; ouo,,od a. Germans naturalized in
.l..~..,...;,. i or1,. too nlain There is hardly
.h =, +bo rosolutiors adopted by the
,.rticinarts in the Washington conference which
-. Lo+ro,, = desire 70 shape American policy
% bopeft Germany as begercnt. The
1o..aods for the ACQUISITION Of government con-
,rou,d cob,e 70 E,,ropc and for the establishment
of or American merchant marine may be passed
o,or &c eunorfcially jnnocuous. But even they
would not be made at this uncture except for the
foot that they might. if granted. change condi-
TONS IN = way TO helm the German cause.
Tho f,,Il nurport Of the pro-Gcrman movement
:. d;s.,osod ~ tbc parapraph which calls for the
Immediate enactment Of legislation prohibiting the
-. &c orr,s aud munitions Of war. No
,;oh, ~ International law is clearer than
the right Of citizens or subjects of neutral
nation 70 sell arms and munitions to a
bo,I;,crent IN q recent senli-official statement
tho German government itself admitted that
RIGHT Il could not well do otherwise, since Ger
man subjects have ALWAYS been permitted to sell
! arms and munitions to countries at war. Yet just
because the accidents Of the present military sit
uation make it very difficult for Germany to pur-
chase arms and ammunition here the pro-Germa1
agitator. want TO change the international law
code so as TO prevent the allied powers from pur-
chasing military supplies in our market.
To make radical change like that in the rules
Of neutral traffic after war has begun would be
in itself gross breach Of the obligations of ncu-
traty. After peace were restored the United
States might properly consider setting a ne"
'slEsrd for itself in the matter Of prohibiting eA
sss+~ o. arms and munitions to countries at war
II could set such a standard however only at TIC
cost Of probably deprivlng itself of the opportun
" Of purchasing military supplies abroad In ITS
own hour Of urgent need. 1t would sacrifice
10 sentimentality a safeguard extremely mpor
tant to a nation which Ike ours Is never ade
quately prepared Tor wal Du' even 'S'de ITO"
the impollcy OF Such P'o"'o'''0' d. INC p'o'o''
man aglta'orS ASH must ~ '''"' " ,'' vas
majority OF amer
rght Whatever 10 '""''e'
uonal law now ""e" ''"' '!,''e>
the oeneh' OF one Se' u