Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-06
UNITED AMERICAS
Should Face Germany
Says Dr.. L. NJ. Drago
Argentina Incensed at Deceit and
Double Dealing of Germans and
Urges Universal Declaration Of War
The Feeling Grows Stronger in the
South American Countries.

(Associated Press Correspondence
Buenos Aires, Oct. 4.-Argentina and
all the Americas should declare war
upon Germany. declares DR.. Luis NJ.
Drago formerly Argentine Minister Of
Foreign Affairs, in a statement he has
issued concerning the revelation that
Count Luxburg, the former German
Ambassador had proposed to the Ger
man government that Argentine ships
be sunk without trace"
DR.. Drago is one of the leading
statesmen Of Argentina. an interna-
tionally known jurist and author of the
"Drago doctine" Much of :he strength
of the movement in Argentina to break
off diplomatic relations with Germany
is a development of the widespread
discussion of DR.. Drago's statement.
Insit he said:
Count Luxburg's telegram cannot
be considered exclusively as an in
dividual act only affecting himself per-
sonally: 1t is the result of an intimate
collaboration between him and his
government. 1t is not merely the min
lister accredited to the Argentine Gov
eminent who has ceased to be persona
grata to this country, it is the German
government itself which, having re-
ceived the monstrous counsel to sink
Argentine ships without leaving any
trace, is directly responsible for the
excuses of its agent who for long
time after the date of the telegram,
has continued to fulfil his dual func-
ton OF diplomatic envoy and of spy,
working in combination with the
Swedish Legation.
The German government appears
, to have received with complacency the
secret communications of the agent
VINO treated us so contemptuously,
Judging from the fact that it main
tanned and supported him in his post.
completing through his INTERPRETATION
the settlement by means Of which the
good faith of our Foreign Office has
bee. abused
1T is not reasonable to suppose
that the ruthless counsel of the minis
ter has been applied to the steamer
nrumalan-Argentine owned. and
Tying the Argentine f1ag-which dis
appeared mysteriously leaving no
trace some months ago on its journey
between Liverpool and Bahia Blanca.
, It'll cargo of coal. There Is every
reason to believe, moreover. that the
recent explanations and promises of
Germany responded to no other inten-
ton than that of being able to main
tain here its great South American
espionage agency with the assistance
OF the Swedish Legation: so that if
again now. Germany We're to offer us
new explanations and renewed protes-
tations of friendship. that would only
mean. that some other occult motive
induced such an attitude.
IF. many months ago. | considered
decidedly that we ought to break with
Germany when that nation declared its
illegal blockade with much more rca-
son today am I convinced that it is
impossible to maintain cordial rea-
| tons with country which makes use
of such methods and such agents. TO
break off our relations with Germany.
besides being in keeping with the ma
tional dignity. would place us in line
with the great democratic nations of
the world and would strengthen our
bonds of union with the sister Repub-
lies Of this continent The action of
| the Argentine Government in continu-
ing relations with the German govern
ment is 2 serious wrong.
The Argentine Republic should
have followed the example Of the
'"it7d states and declared war against
Germany when the United States de-
cared war. Having failed in this il
, should nov show its historic sympa-
thy for the Pan-Amercan movement
and especially its friendship for the
tnited States. and follow the policy Of
the United States. All the Americans
are now united to perpetuate that lib
erty which they won by helping each
other one hundred years ago. and All
should declare war on Germany, whose
government is common enemy of all
who strive for freedom and truth"