Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-02-27
Sir Eduard GREY i'm Ne,v Note Will Fl0u President wilson

supposition, Great Britain would go
to far greater extremes to avert war
with America than with any other
neutral. because the American navy,
Joined with the German, might prove
a match for the grand fleet in "A sim
ultancous attack, the American ships
entering tn North Sea from the
north as the Germans left llelgoland.
And such a possibility, for Britain,
would bc more serious than the GER
tain defeat by Germany of herself
and her allies on hand-the land OF
the latter.
SO unthinkable on both sides OF
the Atlantic Is war between America
and Britain that this contingency
enters into diplomatic relations to a
very small extent and harsh words
from Washington arouse no fear here
of a naval attack which, If 1t were
conceivable, would be greatly dreaded
because OF the existence of the un-
beaten German fleet
Economic Pressure.
But whom The second threat under
lying diplomatic negotiations Is con-
sidcrcd. the threat Of economic pres
sure, the American menace to Brit
ain and her allies becomes fOrmid-
ibltt NIlIt NIltl VI '0N'h'h anu NV
other three ucutrals sinks 10 compar-
atiye insiguiticauCc. My statement
that the Britain blockade is a bluff
means only that Britain would relax
the pressure rather than fight neu-
trail, not that the neutral would nee
essarily triumph by an embargo.
Sweden has already put an embargo
on the expectation Of wood pulp as
a roprisal against England, to which
this country promptly replied 10y pro-
hihiting It's importation and warning
nll publications that they must be
prepared To reduce their consump-
tion of paper Economic pressure
in this case proved Of little avail.
Holland, Norway and Denmark send
goods valuable Tor munitions to Brit
ain and the other allies. but prob
ably not to sufficient extent to en-
able them to coerCo Britain into re
laXing her control of German trade.
Sweden, as an extreme step which
would prob thly lead to war. can cut
off all communication between Rus
sa and ENGLAND and France, except
ing the por's of the White Sea and
Nladivostok. and this possibility is
said to have led to representations
from Petrog'ad on behalf Of Swedish
commerce.
munitions to the allies needs no com
ment. In my opinion, a threatened
embargo would result in America OBJ
tanning any concessions from Britain
which woull not in Sir Edward
GreNs opinion, result in benefits for
Germany commensurate with the ad
vartaEcs derived by the allies from
their access to American markets.
But on only one condition-that Brit
ain believes Americas threat Of such
an embargo would be carried out
and President Wilson obviously can
not make such a threat unless the
country will support it. a fact guard
cdl- commented on here with i'm
menso satisfaction
There is much talk of the approach
ing economic independence of the al
lies. due to the increasing output of
homemade munitions. and it is limited
in irresponsible quarters that just as
soon as American munitions are no
longer needed u more truculent tone
Will be adopted bv the foreign office.
mention this gossip only because 1t
may have reached the United States
and II ought to be denied. The al
1,,g ,,.i1 paV.r L,Vn too MANY o,,ps