Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1915-02-27
GERAIANY's DECREE CONFISCAT-
ING ALL GRAINS AND FLOUR.
(By VIM. Bayard Hale in the
New York SUM
Continuation
Change In British Attitude.

Change In British Attitude.
The enlightened position which
the British government took in June,
1907, is in strange contrast with its
present attitude.
Since its declaration of war with
Germany in August last year Great
Britain has repudiated the declara-
tion of London (Which indeed the
house of lords had never permitted
to be ratifed) and has reversed its
record of over a hundred years. Far
from reaching forth to the further
high ends announced by her minister
OF foreign affairs q few years ago,
she has gone backward all the way
to the other extreme, now announce
ing her probable intention of declar-
ing all foodstutfs absolute contra
band Of war
This is the more remarkable as
the policy which reached its fullest
expression in the instructions quoted
above might be supposed to be q
policy not only of humanity but of
self interest, to a power seated on
an island whose food supply is
peculiarly liable to be cut Off What
influences or considerations have
brought about this change of policy
! Will be one of the subjects that will
interest the historians Of the war
However, it is no practical concern
Of ours If Great Britain has con-
cluded to try to stave Germany
That is not a matter on which the
| United States, neutral nation, can
have anything to say. England may
do it if she can. She may not, how
ever. expect us to help her. That is
| fnrhfdh n 11pIacc VIZ fc fol 10
our place openly at her side. as AN
ally. Nothing has changed since
1893, when Thomas Jefferson in
structed our minister in London that
England might fill the desire OF
starving France, but that she had no
right to do it at our loss nor to make
us the instrument of it.
War in its modern somewhat more
humane form has been understood
to be waged between the armed
forces of belligerent governments
and not by those governments upon
the civilian populations of the enemy
country Yet it can be understood
that in the desperate struggle now
going on war should take on again
the more primitive form in which it
fails to distinguish between the
enemy with arms in his hands and
the peaceful populations who have
stayed at home.
We are outside of the struggle and
can have nothing to say against
procedures taken under this lament
able lapse into inhumanity-until
the procedures involve us. And then
there is a great deal which we have
a right TO say and which we must say.
If Germany were to sink an Amer
lean merchant vessel Germany would
have to answer to us. There are
those who believe that there is
danger Of such a calamity taking
place 1t need not be said that it
would be terrible one indeed.
But there has already taken place
an incident the gravity of which win
not at once be fully appreciated by
the people of the United States. but
which, there is reason to fear, may
reveal itself as the basis of one OF
the most critical situations which the
American government has ever been
called upon to face. The seizure of
the Wilhelmina has been made after
weeks OF consideration OF its case
and after very full exchanges Of
views between Washington and
Downing street. 1t is evident that
there is between the two govern
ments an entire divergence OF view
The position Of our own government
is clear, and ] understand it has
been positively taken. It's argument
certainly is unanswerable-sa with
the answer that military necessity
compels England to refuse American
ships the right to sail the seas upon
lawful and innocent errands.
do not see how we can accept
that answer.
There are persons at Washington
who do not see how we can accept
that answer
Events in the theater of war and
in the consciousness OF the peoples
both belligerent and neutral are
shaping themselves in outlines such
as to warrant the gravest apprehen-
sions in the minds OF thoughtful
Americans.
That the dangers do not lie all on
one side, it seems to me, ought to be
brought home to us, ought to fall
upon us with SOLDERING conscious
ness OF the absolute necessity of dis
posing our minds and ordering our
lightest words in submission to the
precepts of painstaking neutrality.
WILLIAM BAYARD HALE.
Postscript Great Britain
should declare blockade of German
ports, which, If she can enforce it,
would be a straightforward way Of
coercing her enemy without involy-
ing neutrals, the case Of the Wilhel-
nina will have undergone no change.
Our contention would continue to be
that this vessel must be released and
be allowed to proceed on her voyage