The Detroit times., 1917-02-02
d ~ Nearer War, the More
Earnest Should Be Our
Country's Prayer for Peace


that she has been forced ito do away
With the restrictions imposed upon her
hehting means on the sea-" and prescrib-
ing barred zones to shipping, takes US
back to the beginning of the war and the
warning of "strict accountability" from
this government.
The sinking Of the Sussex was con-
strucd to be a defy of our position and
m ultimatum was dispatched TO Berlin
That unless there was 10 be an abandon
n,ent of its methods Of submarine war
fare. there would remain no choice for
he United States but to sever diplo-
matte relations with the German empire
To this ultimatum Germany replied:
In accordance with the general principles Of
Wait and search and destruction OF merchant
vessels recognized by international law. such
vessels. both within and without the area de
cIsred as a naval war none. shall not be sunk
without warning and without saving human
livss unless these ships attempt to escape or Offer
spsistance.
II this government was in the right,
and the ultimatum in the case of the
Sussex had sound basis in international
INV, which Germany. by its reply. ad-
mitted. then Cermany's notice in the
prssent instance amounts to notice to the
neutrals that ii is about TO commit a
srime; that 1t is about to throw consider
alton for law to the four winds: that II
3 about to become irresponsible and tina.
nsutral nations had better look out
Under the circumstances, il is very
evident that there is but one thing for
this country to do. and that, by all means,
ne thing it said it would do in its ulti-
natam growing out Of the Sussex case.
There need not be the haste in taking
1his step that has been suggested by
those newspapers which seem to have
hit their heads Immediately on receipt OF
tAe German note.
There has been no act as yet on the
paxt Of Germany to bear out its defy of
this governments ultimatum.
When there is, then this government
Win be obliged to hand the German rep
yosentative here his passports. and recall
the United States representative in Ger
many
And that done, II will become the
solemn duty of the administration to de-
vote its every energy to KEEPING US
OUT OF THIS WAR.
England, France; ftafy, Russiz-AEb
would welcome us into the war with open
arms, as Germany would.
We are too prosperous, altogether, TO
please any of them.
They look toward US with envy every
time they stop to think that while they
sre engaged in work of killing off each
other and tearing down, and while the
machinery of their industries is rusting
and their fields are going to weeds, We
are engaged in a work of life. with factory
wheels spinning and fields producing in
work of BUILDING UP.
We do not have to continue diplomatic
relations with any country that has the
effrontery to announce that it intends to
become lawbreaker; neither do we have |
70 do the very thing that would be most
pleasing to that envious nation and other
envious nations, or the very thing that
would be the very worst that could hap
pen to us--that is, plunge ourselves into
war needlessly and suffer. needIessly.
what war means.
There Is no use,in playing the ostrich
1t this time.
A sentiment for peace in this country |
that is most pronounced cannot hide the
fact that we are nearer war today than
e any time since hostilities began in Eu- |