The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-19
FOREIGN PROBLEMS
| OF GREAT MOMENT
AWAIT SOLUTION
Much Speculation as to Eff
feet of Present Situation
on Coming Election
WILL PEOPLE UPHOLD
WILSON'S POLICIES?
Leaders of Both Parties Take Consola-
ton in Approach of Another Crisis.
Developments Expected in Rela-
tons With the Allies
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS

| Washington, October S.-(Special 9TH
effect of the foreign relations of tn,
government of the United States on tn,
presidential campaign, is matter o
| speculation. That within recent week
renewed danger of serious crises ha!
presented itself is source Of consola
1 ton not only to republicans but to dem
ocrats as we'll. Both camps cite thu
1 situation and endeavor to point moral
| That Germany sent a submarine acros!
the Atlantic and, under the very nose o.
| the government OF the United States
| proceeded to destroy the commerce o.
its enemies; that England and France
| have pointedly declined to abandon theil
course of selling and opening American
mail; and that Mexico Is surging with
revolution aimed at the continued reigr
of Carranza-all is traceable, according
| to republican politicians, to the spineless
attitude of the administration.
And democrats, no less alert in dis
corning favorable angle, declare that
than Woodrow Wilson can compose dis
cordant clements and guarantee con-
tinued peace and prosperity.
COMING OF GERARD
Irrespective of it's bearing on the pres
idential campaign, the entire situation
lily lends itself to speculation. In the
first place, what brought Ambassador
Gerard to America?
A week before the arrival of the am
bassador, The Age-Herald printed,
through it's Washington correspondence,
story to the effect that Gerard was
coming to tell the President that the
Kaiser was in such position that he
would be forced to resume submarine
warfare. Later the New York World,
from correspondent who made the trip
across the sea with the ambassador,
printed a story to the effect that Gerard
was not coming to talk peace-but to
prepare the President for the resumption
of submarine warfare on the part of
Germany.
On his arrival the ambassador de-
clared in effect that he had given no in
terview or intimation regarding the pur-
pose of his visit-that, as a matter Of
fact he had no purpose in coming. He
talked with the President and then took
the stump
Despite the reticence of the amba ssa-
dor, it is still regarded Is probable that
he did bring news of the situation in
Berlin-a revolutionary situation growing
out of the insistence of influential peo-
=.
marine arm in an effort to stave off what
appears certain and memorable. In other
words, it is thought certain that the
state department, before the new year,
will be called upon to write other notes
of protest against submersible modes of
warfare
FRANCE AND ENGLAND
The government of the United States,
judging from precedents set by Abraham
Lincoln and declarations of Woodrow
Wilson, was without its sphere in de-
manding of the allies that they abandon
their arrogant course respecting search
and seizure of American vessels To
such effect the allies replied to the Amer
lean note. 1t is learned, however, that
Congress may be called upon to enact
other so-called retaliatory legislation-leg-
islation so drawn that it will be effective
ipso facto and not in accordance with
the judgment or desire of the President.
For England is as insistent on perpet-
uating its blacklist policy as before the
American protests or recent enactments
of Congress.
There seems to be no question but that
action tantamount to trade war between,
England and the United States will be a
feature of the winter session. America,
ii is pointed out, cannot tolerate longer
English arrogance in Selling American
mails and citizens, and in Interfering
with legitimate and neutral American
trade. 1t begins to appear that the all
lies cannot by peaceful injunction be
restrained. 1t is possible, therefore, that
when Congress reconvenes, Mr.. Wilson
will proceed against the allies as vigor-
ously as he proceeded in the past against
Germany.
ACROSS THE BORDER
And in the meantime. conditions across
the Rio Grande are as unsatisfactory ana
distressing as ever before. Carranza. de-
spite his recognition by the United States
is in a precarious condition. At the same
time it is evident that he deems it ex-
pedient-for local consumption"-to irri-
tate and otherwise appear unfriendly to
the American government. Villa, the
(Continued n Pare Two