Evening star., 1915-06-02
Talk of Probable Results
Should the U. S. Sever
Diplomatic Relations.
WOULD HAMPER TEUTONS
IN PROSECUTION OF WAR
Service Which This Government Ac-
complished, Through Humanitar-
ian Channels, Will Be Diminished.

Washington students of tho present
international situation. so far as It in
wolves the possibility OF the severance
Of diplomatic relations between Ger
many and the United States, are ask
ing what Germany can possibly gain
by pushing the United States so far
that tho Washington government will
feel forced to sever those relations
Something of the undercurrent Of
this discussion bears upon the motives
with which Count Won Bernstorff, the
German ambassador, sought his inter
view today at the White House with
President Wilson.
1t is believed. for instance, that no
ono realizes more than the German
ambassador that a severance of diplo-
matte relations between the two coun-
tries would be a severe handicap to
Germany in her conduct OF the war, for.
1t Is pointed out. the departure from
the United States of the German am
oassador and his stan would take
away from Germany much OF tho op-
portunity that country now enjoys of
obtaining in the United States infor-
nation relating to the countries with
which Germany is now at war.
A very considerable portion OF this
Information has to do with supplies OBJ
tanned in tho United States by the
allies.
Other Complications Pointed Out.
Again, 1t is pointed out. a severance
Of diplomatic relations between Ger
many and the United States, involving
officials on duty in Germany. would
prevent Germany from asking in future
assistance such as that country has re-
| Oa IVA ~.
reference to German prisoners of war
in Russia, England and France. The
government Of the United States has
been able to be of very material as
sistance to Germany in respect to Ger
mans who are prisoners of var in
ctals have inspected prison camps of
Germans everywhere. trying to con-
tribute to the comfort of the Germans.
This was noticeably SO in the case of
the Russian camps. United States off,
clals succeeded in inducing the Rus
sian government to allow the United
States to send relief expeditions to the
German camps In Russia from PekinR.
China These camps are established
many miles from railroads. where
medical attention Is scarce. The pris-
oners, Tor instance. claimed that they
had no overcoats. The nearest base
OF supplies for the United States was
Peking and the United States agreed
pedttion to go through to tho camps
by way of Harbin, in Manchuria. In
some cases the expedition had to travel
two days by sledge to get to the camps
from the railroad. SO remote were
these camps.
It is believed that no country in
spired by tho humanitarian motives
that have inspired the United States
In tho European war is SO well situated
as the United States to be of service
N m nrfN
said that some Of the diplomats of the
allies on duty in Washington have re-
Gently unoflcially expressed such a
view. In connection with the discus
sion OF the possibility Of severance of
diplomatic relations between Germany
and the United States. In fact, strange
as 1t may seem, 1t is said that the allies
DO not want the United States to sever
diplomatic relations with Germany.
Inspections by o. s. Officials.
1t was pointed out today that tho
United States officials have inspected
prison camps Of French and English
soldiers in Germany and Austria. Who
would carry on that work for France
and England In Germany and Austria
In case a break comes between Ger
many and the United Slater is a oues-
ton. Austria might take over the care
OF United States diplomatic inter-
ests in Germany. but that countrys
diplomatic officers certainly could not
look after German prisoners in Rus
sia, being at war with Russia herself.
Germany did not desire that the
United States should look after her
diplomatic interests in Italy, when
italy entered the war. and it is believed
that in case diplomatic break comes
between Germany and the United Sta ties
Germany would get some European
neutral. such as Switzerland or Spain,
and SO might the United States, to act.
But neither of those countries could
do as much for the great European
powers at war as the United States
can do for all of them at the same time
is doing. in fact.
Belgian Interests at Stake.
Again. one of tho most serious ques-
tions OF all that would come UP in
case of diplomatic break between
Germany and the United States, is.
Who would continue to care for the
Belgian people?
If diplomatic relations should be sew
cred by the United States. and the state
of public feeling in Germany against
the United States should run bieh r.
may be that the first thing the Ger
man government would do following q
break would be to throw all the United
States consuls out of Belgium. Ger
many has recently announced the
formal annexation of that country. II
is through the United States consuls
that the United States has fed the Bel
gian people and otherwise succored
them.
But these consuls have never been
accredited to Germany and are there
only on the sufferance of the German
military commanders The fact that
Brand Whitlock. minister to. Belgium.
is allowed to remain In Belgium Is due
to the courtesy of the Germans. Con-
suls are not diplomatic officers and
have no standing as such. The ex-
equaturs of the United States consuls
to Belgium have not been Cancelled.
Consuls always do business with a de
facto government. and Germany now
has the de facto government in Bel
gium. So that if relations between
Germany and the United States are
severed, and German public opinion de-
mands the removal from Belgium of
United States consuls. the distribution
of relief in Belgium by United States
agents is likely to stop, placing on
Germany an additional food burden
Two Schools Of Thought
1t has been whispered in Washington
ever since the Lusitanfa tragedy that
there are two schools of .thought
among Germans over that event In the
history of the war and the resulting
notes between the German and United