The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-10
State Department Gets Ad-
vices Showing Support
in U-BOat Crisis
BRAZIL READY TO
SEVER RELATIONS
Refuses to Warn Interests to Steer
Clear of Danger Zone and VIII Hold
Germany Accountable for First Vic
lation of Rights.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.-With
Brazil leading the way the Latin Amer
lean countries are rallying to the sup
port of President Wilson in the present
crisis with Germany. The state de-
partment has adyices from Rio de
Janeiro Buenos Avres. MonteVideo,
Lima, Santiago (Chile), and La Paz
BOLIVIAN, showing that the South
American countries are enthusiast
tieaily swinging into line with the de
mand of the United States that inter
national law and the rights of human
itv be respected on the high seas. The
President 5 defiance Of Germany now
virtually has the entire and unqualified
Endorsement of the American continent.
The state department has been adj
vised of a summary OF the Brazilian
government : reply to Germany s sub
marine war zone decree. 1t is not, as
stated in press dispatches, an an
nouncement that Brazil is ready to
sever diplomatic relations with the
German empire Ii contains no sem
| blauce OF bombast or threats but is a
| clean cut diplomatic protest of studied
| fairness and force and brings the Ger
man C-boat decree under the search
| LIGHT Of international law and the rights
of all nations.
The Brazilian government states
! frankly that il cannot recognize the
right Of Germany TO deny the right OF
! ships TO traverse the so-callcd war
zorc 1t refuses to warn Brazilian in
tcrcsts TO steer clear of this zone ant
makes it Enthusiastically clear that the
German government will be held re
Sponsible for the first violation Of
Brazilian rights.
With the first violation of her right!
Brazil will make an immediate demand
on Germany for PREPARATION for damage
to property or loss Of life. The assump
tion in Rio de .Ianeiro is that Berlin
will necessarily refuse reparation OF
the ground that Brazilian interest
were warned to keep without the re
Stricted area. The cIuX of the situa
ton Will then be reached. The Brazil
ian government will, il is understood
act with precision and despatch.
! There Is note Of scrupulous justic
I'm the Brazilian reply to German
which is regarded in state department
circles as well WORTH OF the best Amer
,, lean traditions. Brazil realizes that
conflict with Germany now would hay
as it's initial consequence the possibl
elimination of rival German interest
| and the possible confiscation of Gcl
man properties Of great value. Their
> is, however, no desire to take an III
: Just advantage Of this situation, an
! no action by way of reprisal will b
considered against German interests III
less the Imuerial government ruthlessl
, forces Brazil to take this course.
. There are few Brazilian ships on II
high seas. and the probabilities {
0 Brazilian interests being damaged +
Q the German war zone decree are lie.
!. than those of many other neutral nj
tious. But Brazilian interests. hoy
ever small, are going to be protectC
|, with every care that the goyemmcl
Is can give them.
Word has reached here of the dee
: sion of Bolivia to hold Germany to &
accounting for damage to Bolivian /
terests in the war zone. The positir
taken h., Bolivia is tantamount to Sc
erance of diplomatic relations wit
the German empire. Bolivia is ev,
ready to consider herself in n state
u, war with Germany if the war zo1
decree continues.
" Official news from Argentina
= somewhat similar to advices fro
Brazil The Argentine government h
protested against the German U-bo
decree on the ground that it is a VOL
ton of the rights Of nations and
p accepted laws Of the sea Argenti
reserves decision, it is understood,
German submarine commanders viola
her nationals rights.
Neither the Brazilian nor the Arge
tine governments viii sever relatio
with Germany. however. in advance
a test case demonstrating an Cove
'B act against their interests. In Il