Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-01-24
FRYING INTO WOODROW VIII
SONS SECRETG

SONS SECRETS.
The American people have been
wondering for some weeks upon
what particular mission Colonel Il.
M. House, friend and confidential
adviser and emissary of President
Wilon and Morganatic President Of
the United States, was despatched
to Europe at this time Yelled
references to trying out belligerent
views as to the possibility of'an ear
~ return to peace have beend heard
from Washington. but the recognized
determination of our ruling circles
to support no peace until Germany
is defeated dismisses them. The Col
onel was sent to England, if reading
between the lines of The Worlds
correspondence has any virtue at all,
to tell Sir Edward Grey that his
Orders In Council have impaled the
Administration of Mr.. Wilson firm
ly upon the horns Of dilemma from
which 1t is impotent to remove it,
self, und that it is mandatory, for
the salvation OF the Administration
that Sir Edward conceal the H.
legality of the British treatment OF
our right under the mantle OF
legal blockade.
"Of course, we have but circum-
stantial evidence that Colonel House
journed to Europe TO tip Sir Edward
off--but Arizona is Uttered with
gravcstones erected for less than
this.
1T Will be recalled that on the
21st of October last Mr. Lansing, by
direction Of the President, addressed
a note to the British Government in
which British procedure, in contra
vention Of our recognized rights,
under Orders in Council of March,
1915, and subsequently, was charac-
terized as both illegal and indefensi-
bic. 1t Will be remembered, too, that
the present Congress gave early evil
dence OF desire to have words made
good. The Administrator has, con-
sequently, found itself between the
Devil Of dereliction and the deep sea
of political submergence 1t has been
compelled, apparently, to act against
the Illegal encroachments Of Great
Britain, or to have those cncroach-
ments made legal, So, Colonel
House Is sent, hot-foot, to England
to closet himself with Sir Edward
Grey and convert His Majesty's
Principal Secretary Of State for For
eign Affairs to an appreciation of the
advantages which must accrue to
both Great Britain and the Wilson
Administration by seeking cover
under a legal blockade OF Germany.
The victory is apparently com
plcte. We shall probably hear much
of IL when President Wilson begins
his swing around the country. and
tells us what his Administration has
achieved Ia the defense Of American
rights. What we have been com
pellcd to submit to during the last
ten months as Illegal is now to be
1cgalized'. There Is to be to change
on the part OF the British Govern
ment--eNcept for the worse. We are
still 70 be denied our right to trade
with the neutral countries of Eu-
rope and with unblockaded bclli-
gerents--but the denial is to be le-
galizcd from now on by the procla-
nation of an effective blockade.
And the suggestion comes from the
White Housel
The problem which conrronts the
Administration is one thing. The
problem which confronts the Ameri-
can people generally Is quite another
thing, The American people wish
their rights to be defended against
ono and all. They are pleased with
tho diplomatic victories achieved
over Germany and Austria-Hungary
They can be pleased now only by
similarly substantial victory over
Great Britain and her allies This,
apparently. President Wilson is not
inclined to give them.
The substitute is to be the Dead
Sea apple of rechristening OF the
British Orders in Council. The curse,
and the injury, OF Britain's naval do
minancy is to go-but its title is
to be changed Whom Great Britain
will send her fleet through the Kat
tegat to the blockading OF the Baltic
ports OF Germany we will listen to
talk Of a legal blockade'-but not
before. She Will never do this
for she dare not-and, in consc-
quence. sho may. (and Mr. Wilson
mayo proclaim blockades' of Ger
many until her Foreign Office is
blue in the face, without legally
establishing them
What concerns us at tho mo-
ment, however is not so much the
action which the British Govern
mont may take, as that which our
own has apparently taken. The SEN
ate and the House OF Representa-
tiyes have q right to know why Col
onel House was sent to Europe. They
are compelled in the exercise OF
their duties, to determine why he
was sent Should they discover that
ho was despatched by President
Wilson TO warn Sir Edward Grey, or
the British Government generally,
that the only way in which the Nd
ministration can answer the voice Of
the American peope as expressed by
the Congress is to be found in the
legalization' Of British procedure
which does not admit OF legalization,
the fact should be made known to
our people
There is no room in this demo-
cracy for the secret diplomacy which
involved Europe in this most awful
OF world wars There Is certainly
here no room for the employment Of
secret agents to the destruction Of
American rights vouehsafed by that
Law of nations Of wich President Will
qon has boon On cnpc{efonf and ar