Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-10
Editorial Comment
PLANTING the Seeds Of Hatred.
New York World)

New York WORLDLY
As the acceptance of Germanys lat
est pledge must rest upon a basis or
faith and fact, the Interpretation placed
in Germany itself upon the note &C
companying it becomes a matter of
importance.
! Closely censored as the press of that
country is at all times, its utterances
now must be regarded as even more
significant than it's silences.
! Berlin's promise to abide by the law
of nations in submarine warfare fol-
lows this plain charge that the United
States has taken sides with the allies:
AS matters stand, the German govern
ment cannot but reiterate regret that the
Of Of the naed gtaes the
with such fervor to the unhappy victims
of submarine warfare are not extended
millions of women and children who, ac-
cordng to the avowed intention of the
British Government, shall be starved.
. Moreover, the German people know
to what considerable extent its enemies
are supplied with all kinds of war ma
terial from the United States.
When the German government thus
puts into a state paper poisonous &C
cusations implying hostile acts on our
part and manifestly intended to embit-
er the minds Of it's subjects against the
American Nation, it's assurances of
friendship are open to question if not
suspicion.
Dense as Berlin diplomacy appears
to be. it is not ignorant Of the fact
that we have resolutely maintained
our rights from whatever quarter as
sailed and that our uninterrupted trade
with Germany's enemies is not due to
favor but to the failure of the German
navy to fight for control of the sea
and for Germany's women and children.
What is in fact reproach to Germany
is thus wickedly made an indictment
against the American people which its
authors believe will not be forgotten.
If the purpose of this Islander was to
intensity feeling against the United
States, is there not reason to assume
that the much discussed proviso, con-
dition, expectation or menace, by which
the latest imperial pledge seems to be
qualified, has the same evil object?
The Frankfurter Zeitung so contends, |
for it emphasizes the point that the
promise docs not contain lasting re-
of the principles Of naval
warfare delineated by the German Ad- /,
The Borsen Zeitung calls 1t
a compromise" The Vossische Zeit /,
ung commends the Governments pur-
pose to reserve full liberty of action"
if we fail to persuade or compel Great |
Britain to raise its blockade. The
Tagliche Rundschau gayly refers to
americas promise" to uphold the :
freedom Of the seas and challenges us /
to show that we ARE not England's /
ally" Even Vorwarts, Socialist, holds i
that the adjustment is only tempo
rary, and the kolnische Zeitung says
America must now cause the removal
of Great Britains hunger blockade"
The German people have been taught
that conditions produced by the fail
ure of their navy to fight for their
and children have been due to
the open enmity of the United States.
At last the falsehood has been boldly
in a diplomatic note. Supple
this untruth is the officially
expectation that if Germa
ny's submarine commanders quit the
assassination of Americans for sea-
son we are in duty bound to do what
Germany has not done-that is to say,
nullify British sea power; and the Ger
man PRESS SO lar as II IS permitted 10
speak, eagerly adopts the same view.
Time alone will tell whether con
cession" made by a Government and
people so thoroughly infected with the
virus of misrepresentation and wrath
will promote friendly relations or lead
to more acute differences.
Those who seek peace and justice in
good faith do not at the same time
SOW dragons teeth of calumny and
hatred for future generations to reap
n wrath and sorrow.