New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-08
No More "Watchful Waiting

"Watchful waiting may have been a
safe. though rather inglorious, policy to
follow in dealing with a weak, imPoyer-
ished nation like Mexico. 1t is not safe
policy 70 follow in dealing with power
full and trucuent antagonist-or prospec-
tive antagonst-like Germany.
The Administration seems to incline just
now to a programme Of passlvity toward
Germany. An covert act" will be awaited.
Meanwhile ''inveterate optimism" will pre-
vail and the comforting hope Will be In
dulged in that Germany, if we remain qul-
cscent. will reconsider her determination
70 abolish American rights on the high
seas, in so far as those rights come into
collision with alleged German military ne
cessities.
No more dangerous delusion could be
cherished in Washington at this Juncture
than a belief that Germany will back
down on her new programme Of ruthless
submarine warfare because OF the pro-
tests made by the United States. Ger
many does not do business that way. Her
new submarine blockade Is measure
born Of military desperation. The Ger
man government has been planning 1t Tor
months. 1t has weighed all the conse-
ouences. 1t has staked everything, as
Chancellor Won Hollweg truly
said on one last, reckless throw. Ger
MANY is compelled to make her campaign
Of destruction at sea as complete and mer-
CHESS as possible She could not afford TO
admit its ilegality and order its abridg-
ment so far as one neutral, the United
States. was concerned while asserting It's
legality and enforcing it in all its rlgor
against other neutral nations.
Germany was fully prepared for trouble
with the United States. The simulta-
reous disabling of all her merchant yes
sells lying in American ports proves that
sine has never had thought OF back
tracking on her blockade decree Her
statesmen and newspapers say frankly
that she cannot now recede. She is going
to make good on her threats, and an overt
act" on her part against American ship
ping or against Americans travelling on
enemy merchantmen can be avoided only
if American shipping and American trav-
euers keep out of the blockaded zone.
If we maintain the position which the
President has taken, which it was neces-
sary for him to take in order TO Justly
his dismissal of Ambassador Won Bern
storff. we cannot avoid clash with Ger
many. 1t is therefore imperative to put
away all vain imaginings Of some semi
miraculous transformation of German pur-
pose. Our rights are in conflict with Ger
man military necessities. And Germany
will give heed to her military necessitles-
no matter what happens to American
rights. We are deceiving ourselves II we
think we can uphold American principles
without fight.
"Watchful waiting" in diplomatic
sense, is therefore aimless. In military
sense it is worse than aimless. 1t IS eX-
ceedingly dangerous. Even though the
clash with Germany may be postponed for
a few DAYS or weeks by a waiver of rights
on the part of individual American ship
owners and seagoers, we ought neverthe-
less to be making the most hurried prep
arations for self-defence.
This, so far as the reorganization of the
army is concerned, We are evidently not
doing. We are not getting ready fast
enough TO raise a real army and to ma
tionalize our military system. Even if we
should by some miraculous interposition
avoid a declaration of war with Germany,
we should still need a real army and real
military system.
Now is the time 20 enact general con-
scription law. We have dawdled for two
wears and a half over military prepara-
ton. We cannot afford to indulge in any
more "watchful waiting so far as the
adoption Of a rational military policy is
concerned.