The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-10-14

ADMINISTRATION NOW .--.--z-=--
r. BETWEEN TWO FIRES
By George F. Anthier

xSA6AVSs
By George F. Authier.
s Chicago, ILL.,, Oct. 14.-Transfer-
ence OF the German submarine actiy-
ity to the coast waters of the United.
States has given a new and startlinx
angle to President Wilson's foreiRn
policy. This submarine activity, II
successfully. continued, amounts !. 70
nothing more or less than a blockade
of America. 1t: means the: jdestruc-
tion of American commerce, for for An An
erican commerce IS carried il foreign
bottoms: It threatens destruction of
the artificial prosperity in which Am
erica Is now reveling, and more than
threatens to involve this country in
complications, either with Germany
or with the allied powers, or with
both. - '-7n.f:A> .'+% '@' :,,-1S :. ~
e There can be no question but tie
revival Of this submarine activity car
ried out under the very nose 81 tie
president, is a result OF a we'll u1l-
derstood decision to remain at peace.
at any price, and not to resent any
aggression upon American rights.
=! .!.c.G1 Invited Complications. ..,..,r
The announced decision of the .ad-
ministration, made early in it's his
tory, not to resent any aggression up-
on neutral rights, as exemplified in
Mr.. Bryan's cooling-off treaties, and
the practical application of this
theory in the abandonment of Amer
leans to their fate in Mexico, invited
the first complications. Great Brit
ain and the allied powers were the
first offenders. They could have
been most easily brought to terms, be-
cause they were depending upon Am
erican shipments for the successful
prosecution of the war, but the econ
omfc failure of the Underwood tariff
law made an artificial war prosperity
absolutely essential, and it was not
done. There could have been no
other reason, for the president had
declared for policy Of neutrality in
thought, as in deed. Acknowledging
that there is no comparison between
the sacrifice of lives and the destruc-
tion Of property, it must be admitted
that Germany had greater excuse
than the allied powers for violating
neutrality, because the precedent had
already been established by England.
i '-' Was Not Prepared. LII
Both situations were the direct re-
suit Of policy which announced in
advance that, no matter what was
done this country was not prepared
to defend it's rights. The American
government was saved from being
forced into complications only be-
cause wisdom took counsel with re-
sentiment, and the German govern
ment withdrew temporarily from its
position.
In this withdrawal was coupled q
condition; namely, that the American
government compel Great Britain to
observe neutral rights. On April 10
the president had sent to Germany an
ultimatum setting forth that-"un-
less the imperial German government
should now Immediately declare and
effect an abandonment of its present
methods of warfare against passenger
and freight carrying vessels, this
country could have no choice but to
sever diplomatic relations with the
government of the German empire al
together" One of the conditions in
sisted upon by this government was,
that no liner should be- torpedoed,
and that the lives of passengers
should be safeguarded; yet. in the
torpedo attack the other day the este
piano." a liner, was torpedoed, and
passengers and crew were compelled
to entrust their lives in small boats
f1@
ers were on hand to rescue them, but
their presence was a matter of luck,
and the entire situation shows upon
what a narrow margin rests the ele-
ment of safety for this country. The
administration has held that, en-
trusting passengers to the safety of
small boats hardly comes under the
head Of protection of life. Given the
absence of 'destroyers, or the presence
of a rough sea there would undoubt-
edly have been loss of life.
Liable to Error.
This is not the only danger in
volved in the situation. Submarine
commanders, brave and intelligent as
they undoubtedly are, are only human
and liable to error. Given such a
mistake the safety of the country is
involved, or else the administration
will again be compelled to eat its own
words. IT. =. .@GH 5&E
Still another complication is in
volved. The campaign against sub
marines cannot be carried on with
the utmost nicely of regard for in
ternational situations. All submar-
ines look alike, and the rule in hunt
ing the submarine is to shoot first
and investigate afterwards. Either
American submarines will have to
abandon American waters, or the al
lied warships will be compelled to
abandon the German submarine. This
CONTINUED On Pa9o o