New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-06
The Growing Blundcr of German
Diplomacy.

Diplomacy.
Bismarck was a master Of the fincsse Of diplo-
macy. lie prepared the way for all his triumphs
by smoothing out difficulties and forestallinC
hostile combinations. lie knew the value of
friendly foreign opinion. The post-Bismarckian
diplomatis,s have tried to show how far they
have emancipated themselves from the Bismarck
tradition hv adopting the exactly opposite theory.
They have practised q military brusqueness and
have consistently irritated foreign opinion instead
Of conciliating It.
Bismarck left the German Empire In position
Of exceptional security The post-BismarcEians
not only manoeuvred Italy out of the Triple Ali
ance but they gradually forced two ancient
rivals Great Britain and Russia to compose their
differences and unite with France in a defensive
compact. They shocked civilized opinion by VIC
lating the treaty which guaranteed Belgum's
neutrality and by visiting the brutalities Of war
on an innocent, helpless people, with whom Ger
many had no quarrel whatever. German diplo
macy for years past has been record of blum
ders due largely TO arrogance. But in its afront
10 the interests and sensibilites Of neutral ma
lions no other blundcr has been quite so fragrant
as the threat contained in the "war zone" proca-
nation Just issued by the German Admiralty.
The threat is somewhat yelled; yet no neutral
government can fail TO catch It's meaning Ger
many wants to enforce blockade against Great
Britain, but lacks the naval forces with which to
close British ports. She therefore resorts to the
expedent Of declaring the waters around Great
Britain and Ireland war zone" Since this
war zone" can be patrolled only by submarines
and since German submarines operating there
cannot deal with merchant ships destined for
British ports according TO the rules of search and
seizure established by international law, Germany
threatens TO destroy them outright, without re-
gard TO the safety of crews and passengers.
SO far as such measures concern British ships
neutral nations might have no cause to complain.
Germany has already violated the rules Of war
fare on land and would simply be going one step
further in violating the rules Of warfare at sea-
Civilized opinion would set one more black mark
against Germany's record if her submarines
should torpedo British merchant vessels without
warning and without mercy.
But when the German Admiralty hints that
neutral ships may also be sent to the bottom with
out inquiry, simply because they may happen to
be in this war zone" It makes e threat which
every neutral nation is bound to resent. Unless
Germany establishes real blockade Of the British
coast and is prepared to intercept and capture
neutral ships in the authorized way, these ships
are entitled to disregard the blockade proclama-
ton They retain the same rights IN the war
zone" as they have anywhere else on the high
seas. No neutral nation which respects itself
will allow its shipping TO be excluded from un-
blockaded ports by the menace Of an irregular
and illegal submarine attack.
A submarine is just as much bound as any
other warship TO observe good faith toward neu-
trails It's commanding officer cannot run amuck
and excuse himself for sinking neutral vessels on
the ground of oversight He is obliged to over
haul and visit neutral ship before taking any
hostile action against it. He and his government
can violate international law only at their own
peril.
II the German government Is looking for trou-
BILE with the United States. or Spain or Italy all
il has TO do is 20 permit submarine to torpedo
an American, Spanish or Italian vessel entering
the German Admiralty's psychological "war zone"
Every neutral is bound TO respect a real blockade
and TO accept begerents warning to the
presence Of mines in any particular area. But 1t
must reject as piece of unwarranted arrogance
the suggestion that German naval officer may
happen TO be careless enough to torpedo a neutral
ship making a voyage which it is clearly within
It's rights in making
We are confident that the United States will
meet this issue as IL ought 10 be met