Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-18
Pan-American
Protestations.

what other neutral
Pan.American American nations are
doing to coupteract a
AAo'oso'AoS' propaganda which is
only too manifest. Brazil has led off in
protestations that have attracted uni
versal comment, Peru and Bolivia are
following. A dispatch dated Lima, the
18th instant. says:
The Peruvian foreign minister. reply
ing to the American minister respecting
President Wilson's suggestion that other
neutral nations take the same position
as the United States orr the German sub
marine campaign, says:
my government trusts that some
modification can still be obtained speed
ing the way to sentiments of justice and
concord which will prevent the bringing
upon America the horrors of a war with
out parallel in history"
On the same day a note from the
Bolivian government was received in
Washington. The note informs the
Berlin government that the Bolivian
government has resolved to CONSOLE
date its attitude in the present diplo-
matte emergency with that of the gov
eminent of the United States"
The note besides characterizes the So
called blockade as irregular. points out
that the German government without
regard for the rights of neutrals now
tries to abolish by it's sole inspiration
the rules under which neutrals have
been permitted by international law
and practice to maintain their COM
merce during a war between other ma
tions. and contends that the inevitable
result of this attitude is to force sort
of war without belligerence on neu-
trails"
The Spanish people. attentive specta-
tors of this spectacle, have retained
two great ideas: First, that of justice
founded on the origin of the war. pre-
meditation on the part of Germany and
the violation of Belgium; then an idea
of the power of the entente born of the
victory of the Marine. of the creative
effort of the allies and of their com
mon resolution. Against those ideas
Prince Ratisbor. his collaborators and
the press in his pay have seen their
efforts broken irrevocably.
In a recent circumstance Count Roma
nones has worthily interpreted the sem
timent of a noble people. His response
chief of the conservative opposition.
Senior Dato. is one of the finest acts of
probitv. tact and firrness of the som-
her period in which we live. The
chiyalric care not to wound the sus-
capabilities of the allies. the far-see-
ing care not to push Spain in an enter
nrise without issue. characterfzes this
document as perfect in foundation and
form Spain it should be said by that
response has ennobled her neutrality.
x
In order to measure the effect pro-
duced by Count Romanones' reply 1t is
sufficient to read the journals
Madrid of Madrid. This Hispano-
German press since then man.
1ieSs' ifests its distress by cries of
rage. The manifestations were seen
ut the recent banquet offered to NJ Dato.
With violence. NJ. Dato was reproached
With refusing to accede to Germany's
summons to place Spanish navigation
under the surveillance of German SUBJ
marines Count Romanones concluded
that it became the honor and dignity of
Spain to oppose to these maneuvers
definition Of Spain's situation.
The international policy of the liberal
marty finds in recent events new con-
firmation of Snains situation. The king
is the chief of the conservative party,
whose patriotism ignores the combina-
lions of party. The king and his adher-
ents have not ceased to give to the
Diplomatic acts of Count Romanones the
adhesion which dictated solution of
the crisis.
The solemnty of that solution is not
less worthy of being retained. Coming
after the reply to President Wilson IL
has the character so highly honorable
of neutrality thaI IL neitneI pttf'hS itS
duties nor does it humiliate itself be-
fore the arrogant brutality of German
diplomacy. 1t proclaims that tomor-
row. as Yesterday. Spain will be mis-
trass in her country.
The recent ministerial crisis on the
eve of the reopening of the cortes tJan-
uary 29) was considered to be one OF
pure form. but nevertheless govern
ment considered it necessary to com
municate a note explaining the crisis.
The "c,,rrunque." enumerating the
protects pending in parliament. mem
lions the note of President Wilson on
which all political parties in parlia-