Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-12-08
THE LATEST GERMAN PLOT"


TuE I,NTEST "GERMAN PLOT"
-
or late we have quite often read
the assertion in the pro-British Press
of this country that Germany IS try
ing to involve US into war with Eng
land, and that o new German
Crisis is imminent" The majority
OF the American people may not quite
understand this. But It is easily
enough understood, If one only stud
les the situation thoroughly.
Let us glance for moment at the
diplomatic situation from the Berlin
point OF view. From the standpoint
Of sea power the Wilhelmstrasse has
but to let well enough alone, to show
complaisance to our Department Oh
State, to meet us with concessions
on all points The greater the care
taken by the German Government to
avoid cntangling disputes with our
selves, the greater the likelihood that
sooner or later British aggression on
the high seas viii drive us TO an
ultimatum and an ultimatum Will
render war with Great Britain logic
al. They understand this perfectly
well in Downing Street. they under
stand it perfectly wen in the Will
helmstrasse. Unfortunately, 1t is not
understood at all among our people.
That is why they fall so regularly
into pit diggcd by the agents OF
British policy over here. Every time
the diplomatic situation between
Washington and London grows acute,
the Anglomaniacs find some German
submarine violating law Of war. Oi
course, from the British point OF
view, we violate q rule of war every
time q peaceable German merchant
submarine leaves or enters an Amer
lean port. In fact. there is nothing
we can think OF which il done by
German submarine does not violate
the laws Of war as laid down by
Downing street.
The task Of the Anglomaniacs over
here is of the easiest kind, therefore.
1t resembles that of the attorney for
tho defense in criminal trial.
Whenever evidence q introduced TO
bring home to the defendant the
commission Of an overt act, the coun-
sci for the defense begins TO abuse
tho district attorney il he does not
start a quarrel with the Judge him-
self. n the same way, whenever
we como to grips with the British
navy, we hear Of the crimes" Of a
German submarine.
II the American mind can be 50
confused over tho issue as to fail to
distinguish between the aggressions
Of the British fleet and the behavior
Of the German submarine, we shall
have German" crisis. It viii al
most infallibly be British" crisis
in q German" dress. The elements
Of the pl oblem promote a certain
amount Of confusion, to be sure. Ihe
European world is at war. Naval
power is to be one Of tho decisive
factors in that war. Great Britain
dominates the surface OF the seas.
Germany challenges that domination
from under water. AS q result or
the dispute, ocean borne trade be-
comes hazardous. Americana are de-
prived cf their rights on the hlgh
seas Each belligerent insists that
the other is a pirate. One OF inc
bclllgcronts sends courteous conces-
sions III reply to our protests and We
find that this most courteous OF the
pair happens to be the one which has
most TO gain by courtesy to ourselves
Tho other belHgerent has everything
to lose by conceding our claims For
instance. il Germany makes herseh
odious to us, she prevents the very
war between Great britain ana our
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