Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-27
DIPLOMATIC BREAK
Effect of Severance of United
States and Germany's Relations.
Precedents, Past and Present, Show
II would Increase Peril Of War,
but Not Necessarily Prccipi-
tate II.

washington Letter to New York Post.)
What would a severance OF diplomatic
relations between the United States and
Germany really mean?
The weather would be as hot or as cold
in Washington as spring times ftful
changes induce, before or after break in
relations Likewise I'm Berlin would there
be no outward or visible sign of what the
step meant. No more armies would be
recruited on that account. No new casu-
atty lists would be published. Treaties
would not be suspended, commercial re-
lations directly or indirectly would not
be affected. The only physical changes,
to take place, would be the sudden pack
ing of trunks and belongings in the Ger
man embassy at Washington and tho
American embassy at Berlin. Clerks and
attaches might he saying goodby to ma
tive Swecthearts.
But, without the shedding Of an Off
cial tear two ambassadors would say
farewell and the affair would pass into
history. Sometimes conslls are with
drawn, but not always, as these are not
diplomatic officers but really commercial
representative The United States gov
eminent, at all events, and the imperial
German government would from that mo-
ment forth end diplomatic communication
cease speaking to each other, avoid their
respective personalities on the highways
of the world and, perforcc, snub each
other in ethical matters of international
! fraternity. When Warships met they
would not salute each other. In the Off
cia records there would be a blanl; page
covering relations with Germany.
| Such interests as caring for American
archives or Americans remaining i'm Ger
many. would he entrusted by the United
States to another neutral Spain, Holland,
or Sweden, Germany would probably
give her interests over to her ally Aus
tria and if by chance diplomatic relations
between this country and the dual mon
archy were interrupted Sweden might be
asked to care for Teutonic affairs.
The vital thing for Germany would ho
the sudden unloading by the United States
OF the task-graCiouslv assumed at the
outbreak of the war and maintained witt
considerable effort and painStakinE care
since them--the handling of German in
terests in Great Britain Russia. France
Serva, and Japan. German prisoners o.
war have benefited by American supervl
sion or course, the United States would
have to relinquish similarly her Connec
, ton with British, French Russian, Bel
Eian. Servian, and japanese interests IL
Germany. Some other neutral country
perhaps hrgentina--would take over tn
burden.
THE PERIL OF ENSUING WAR.
So much for tho visible charact eristic
of a break in relations. They are so fey
and compa ativcly SO unitnportant as +
I imply n certain futility of procedure whe
, the objects to he attained are consid
cred. There is, however. a greater an
= much more impressive side to the ste
which would make it n cause for gray
> thought n moment of apprehension a
: we'll as OF genuine sorrow. 1t would sen
through the world thrill of excitemcn
1 "A sensation of expectancy; because tn
Q brca king of Diplomatic relations has |
= SO many cases been the precursor of wal
a Another attack on unrcssting vessel
$ carrying Americans, another sea-traged\
and the popular imagination would Sc
, rcd" Reason-typihed in the moralit
= of International intercourse. tho fOunda
= tombstone OF diplomatic relationship
$ would have failed: the alternative re
$ ing the incidental quarrel of an unscruT
g ulous belligerent with a peace-loving mel
Q trail a casus hcll And. thcnccforth tn
g interests If the United States might b'
s come "coincident with the interests
Il humanity" as some people intcrprete
President Wilson'S snecch the other da'
il The American nation would find itse
!. entangled after all in war whose cause
.1,.s. a. ,f,f n
y concern cis-Atlantic peoples.
N There is a feeling indeed-sprung fro
"A reliance in President Wilson'S foroea
ance if not the conviction that German
will not care 10 invite disaster by draw
ing Americas incXhaustive funds ar
Il supplies into the pot of resources needle
by the allies to pinch Germany into su
! mission--whch casts doubt on the prob
bility of a state of war hiatus
+" diploma;c relations is looked upon
the President himself, for example.
'e mot necessarily meaning war Tru
, Count Won Bcrnstorff, the German N
y" bassador. did once say to Secretary La
, sing apropos of these things that a bre;
IN would mean war" between the two cou
tries, but. at best, this was hypothetio
statement, and a personal opinion.
TREC'EDENTS OUT OF HISTORY.
~ Many prcccdents arc available to I
researcher, proving that a severance
III diplomatic relations has not alwa
. brought on war Peru and Chilli are
:" day without diplomatic representation
Santiago and Lima, respectively. Al
~ the execution of emperor MaNimllf
an Austrian archduke at Clieretaro. ME
~ in 1861 Diplomatic relations with Nc
leo we're broken by Austra-l1ungar
and so remained for more than 80 yea
no Recently, the United States and Mex
severed official diplomatic relations, a
VI while the Vera Cruz affair may imp
the value of the precedent 50 far as q
~ government is concerned certainly
disconnection by Argentina. Brazil, Oh
:" and later by several European Cover
~, ments of diplomatic relations with a
|" government in Mexico reveals how
some cases the action Is simply pass
u and without belicose tendency.
Even to-day, while Italy and Aust
are at war. Germany and Italy are me
ue ~ In state of suspended diploma
inf crcoursc." Economic reasons ha
ali produced this arrangement-the des
chiefly ON Germany's part to prevent
'ut soouestration of German CAPITAL and pre-
ertv i'm italy No coniscation of pr'
NE erty, however, is possible even were
state of war to cnsue as between
United states and Germany, FOR the Pr
sian-Amercan treaty of us Specica
'ai nroyides for the protection of priv
property in the event OF war Sh