The Washington times., 1915-09-12
IS 1T A GERMAN TnRsArp

In a left-handed fashion charac-
teristic of German diplomacy there
was made public yesterday state
ment, which appeared in The Times,
purporting to represent the opinions
Of Count Won Bernstorff on the pres
ent relations between Germany and
the United States. The statement is
credited to the German ambassador
that, while he did not authorize the
interview, it represents his views.
This is sufficiently indirect to permit
any subsequent adjustment to diplo-
matte necessities, and despite his de-
nial there is a belief in New York
he did say the things he is quoted as
saying.
That Americans are seeing every
thing nowadays through British
spectacles," that there is no real
difference between Germany and
this country over submarine war
fare, and that if break Of diplo-
matte relations shall come it must
inevitably and very soon lead to war
is the substance of this putative
emanation from the ambassador.
Authorized or otherwise, it sounds
like a German utterance. The warn
ing that war must follow a cessa-
ton of diplomatic relations harks
back to the amazing indiscretion'
of the advertisement that the Lusi-
tania was to be sunk and that people
with concern for their lives would
better not sail on her.
To regard the situation as quite
thus grave is to assume that Ger.
many has gone further in militar'
istic magalomania even than hac
been supposed. 1t amounts to de-
liberate warning to the United
States that if it imagines its self
respect worth protecting, and trie!
to protect it, it must expect to figh
Germany. That sort Of warning
savors of the same diplomatic as
tuteness that at the wars beginning
led Berlin to feel sure England
would not fight, Belgium would no
resist, Ireland would revolt, tn
Beers would rise, India would star
insurrection, and Italy would sticl
by the triple alliance. 1t might b
presumed that even German diplo
macy would have learned better b
this time.
Perhaps the situation is as grav
as this reputed view Of German
makes It; but there is reluctance t
believe it. It is difficult to believ
that Germany is as contemptuou
Of American economic, financial, an
military possibilities as she certain
ly has been of American diplomac!
This country is today in no mind t
receive warning that further pul
suance of its present course mean
war. This is not country tina
chooses to be "bluffed." So eyre
gious an error might be possible i
German conduct of international re
lationship; hardly in any other.
Germany's present conduct
forcing matters toward severance {
diplomatic relations. If that near
war, what next? How is German
to be the gamer? The United State
entrance into the war would mea
the precipitation of a Balkan sol,
tion, with the minor states of ii
Near East on the side of the el
tente. It would mean a quick er
to Dardanelles resistance and
Turkey in Europe. 1t would plat
the balance of economic force Or
military potentiality SO powerful
against Germany that there cou
be no longer uncertainty about Il
outcome.
It is beyond all reason and con
mon sense that Germany does NJ
realize these things. Likewise, it
impossible to believe that German
is still misreading the evidence
present-day American feelings.