The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-05-20
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER
EXCHANGE.

The most impressive fact about the
national crisis growing out of the I4usi-
tania, as it has developed in Washing
ton, was the increased frankness with
which the Germans made the situation,
was discussed and the general adoption
of plain language and blunt words
which few days ago Washington
would have hesitated to utter.
Following the receipt of the destrue-
ton of the Lusitania the President
withdrew into the quiet of his study,
where, unmoved by clamor and I'M
swayed by public emotions, he gave
his untrammeled attention to the solu-
ton on the problems confronting the
nation and for this proper handling of
which he is eminently responsible
His remarks at Philadelphia last Mon
day night, before 1900 newly natural
a man may be too proud to fight and
that a nation may be so right that it
need not use force to convince others
that it is right, We're interpreted here
as evidence of the President s deter
mination to do everything reasonable
possible to avoid war with Germany.
That the United States can bargain
with Germany to bring her to abandon
her submarine operations so far as
they endanger American life and prop
erty, is considered by some as out of
the question. The suggestion is made
that this government should break off
diplomatic relations with Germany;
proclaim her, i'll American opinion, as
an outlaw among nations, with whom
the United States can have no rela-
tons. This course is urged as peculiar
ly incumbent upon the United States
as the leading neutral nation, and in
line with its duty to civilization.
| 1t is asserted in some quarters that
| it would be well for the President to
call congress in extraordinary session,
as soon as the present excitement has
subsidized, and ask it to consider the
one great question that has doomed up
the question of national defense.
That this country would applaud the
President and congress if such step
were taken, there can be little doubt.
While official Washington is thus
in turmoil over the sinking of the
Lusitania, Count Won Bernstorff, the
German Ambassador, called at the state
department and expressed to Secretary
Bryan "his deep regret that the events
of the war had led to the loss of so
many American lives.'' The German
government has also officially express
ed its deepest sympathy at the loss of
lives on board the Lusitania, declaring
that the responsibility rests, however,
with the British government, which,
through its plan of starving the civil
ian population of Germany, has forced
Germany to resort to retaliatory meas
ures.'
There is good reason to believe that
the Atlantic fleet will not be sent
through the Panama canal to Pacific
waters in July, as at present planned
by the secretary of the navy. When
the announcement is made that the
fleet cannot undertake the Pacific
journey, physical difficulties in the
canal will doubtless be cited as the
change of program. Officials will not
admit it, but there is reason to believe
that the strategists of the navy insist
that at this juncture in the world IS
affairs it would be unwise to leave the
Atlantic coast unprotected. The strate-
gists are not figuring on war, possibly,
as matter of precaution it is said they
have advised that the fleet be retained
in Atlantic waters.