Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-06
HANGING BY 4 THREAD.

Unless the United States makes a distinctly hos
tile move against Germany the diplomats Of tb
Wilhemstrasse have reason TO feel some satisfac
ton at their accomplishments They have gaine'
a strong point in their program Of starving
England out" and they seem 90 DE in particula
peril from the United States
Germany has no reason To take the offensive
against this country Quite the contrary On TN
other hand she has several reasons for her campaign
OF ruthessness at sea. chief of which is the posi-
biIify Of isolatng he British Isles that they vii
he reduced to the point of famine.
Knowing. as all the world knows, that Americ;
h striving 10 keep out of the hideous maelstrom o
war. Germany is' deliberately testing forbearanc'
not merely to the limits of friendly relations bu
TO the limits of severed relations which have not We
actually developed war. 80 it would seem from
most recent developments
With our country on the very verge of entrane,
into the conflict, the United States government vii
certainly take rigid measures 10 conserve food sup
plies. We have neither a large merchant marine t.
risk in a hazardous running of the German sub
marine gauntlet, nor large number of naval vessels
in commission to patrol freghters CARRYING food sup
plies or munitions There is also tremendous
sentiment beginning TO move in the United States
against a continuance of the very heavy shipments
Of. food TO Europe, because of the high prices
burdening millions of Americans. A few Americans
are getting fabulousy wealthy of the trade ant
q good many thousand workers are reaping the haf'
vest of high wages, but the vast majority of tht
American people are suffering far more from higl
living cost than they are benefitng from indirect
war profits. Several bills have been introduced a
this session Of Congress calling for embargo ship
ments OF foodstufs, but they have had no chance Of
passage because the athOme sentiment has not beer
strong enough to force drastic government action
Of that sort.
Should the United States simply sever relations
With Germany, and no overt act follow on either
side II seems probable that the net result will bt
that Uncle Sam will greatly restrict food exports
10 the Allies for the reasons already given That IN
Itself will have been a triumph FOR German dip
Iomaey.
But We cannot conceive that a severance Of reia
tions will long leave the two countries polite but in
netive enemies The very nature of the German
Submarine campaign menaces American life at sea
This has been conclusiyey shown not only in Mr.
Wilson's notes, but in the marine events that pre-
teed and followed them. 1t is certain We shall not
abide by the German ultimatum of lone ship a
week 1t is certain that in the campaign of ruth
|essness some overt act will be committed BY Ger
many. Some such incident as that of the killing
q. the bdithOFe ssllOf Yesterday VIII lOucn OH lnt
powder
Once actually at war with Germany the American
people wilishe in Il very different mood and tn
american government il very different position Is
regards supplying the Allies The people will be
pady for far gveatcr sacrifices than those imposed
by high living cost they will assent to any measure
which viii assist the Allies to crush the German
military and naval organizations.
Then VIZ can and shall orplnizp tho Tremendous
stream of food and munitions for Britain. France
and Russia that will make their success certain
The present situation cannot endure. We doubt
II many Americans wish il to endure. The temper
Of the American people row is TO 60 through with
the job But il is evident that President Wilson is
still hoping the weight of aroused national senti
ment viii finally bring Germany to realization that
her ruthlessness campaign will not be borne. he
hopes that Berlin will feel this sentiment it gath
crs momentum, and will yield before the point Of
our active alliance with the Entente powers is
reached
Meanwhile, peace for America hangs by thread
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