Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-03
EVENTS OF A WEEK.

tSATURDAY EVENING. MARCH 5
EVENTS OF A WEEK.
The developments in the interna'
donal situation during these last days
Of the congressional session have
been startling in their character. The
publication In the newspap1rs of the
country Of the text of the instruc'
tions issued by the German foreign
loffice to its Mexican representative
fairly took the country's breath. The
manner Of Its publication. vouched
for. as it was. by the Associated
Press. leaves no real doubt as to Its
authenticity in the minds of those
who are capable Of following news
developments intelligently. for all in
telligent people know that the Asso-
ciated Press does not manufacture
news or distort facts. But even those
who are less we'll informed. and who
are in. the habit of speaking scorn.
fully Of newspaper sensationalism
were silenced when. in response tc
an inquiry from the senate. the pres
ident of the United States and the
secretary of state vouched for the
authenticity of the German letter.
X \ X X X
In that message. which was dis.
patched on January 10. Germany's
Mexican representative was instruct
ed to propose to Mexico an alliance
against the United States. and to ar.
range for the making Of similar pro.
posals to Japan. the purpose being
that armed resistance by the United
States to the attacks of Germany up
on its shipping and its citizens shall
be followed by the active participa-
ton OF both Mexico and Japan on the
German side.
X * X X
Attention has been called to the
fact that this message was sent near.
ly two weeks before the issuance OF
the German announcement of unre.
stricted submarine warfare Of Janu.
'ory 81, and that it was predicated or
the expectation that the United States
would decline to abide by the new
rules which Germany had promul.
gated. This sheds an interesting ligh,
on the sincerity Of the German chan.
cellor, who. some three weeks later
expressed panied surprise that tn,
United States should have misunder
stood the German position It Is ais,
interesting to note that during tn.
two weeks between the issuance o.
this message and dismissal of the
German ambassador. Count vor
Bernstorff was in Washington. acting
ostensibly as the friendly emissary Of
a friendly government. Yet during
this time he was seeking. in accord.
ance with instructions from his gov.
srnment to promote a hostile ALI.
ance against the United States, wa.
Issuing instruction to German com.
manders of shipping In American
harbors to disable their ships wher
the expected break between the two
countries came, and was continuing
in every way possible the perfection
of the various plots against American
freedom of action which have beer
conspicuous features Of German activ.
tty in this country ever since the wal
began. 1t has become established be.
yond doubt that, whatever the tech.
nical status may have been, the Ger
man government has in reality been
prosecuting a war against the Uni.
ted States for more than two years
4 4 4 @
This information came to congress
while that body was considering the
presidents request for authority to
proceed as the facts might warrant
Ono effect Of the publication was to
puncture some Of the glittering peace
bubbles which have been blown in
dustriously by persons In and out OF
congress. There has been no more
talk In congress Of withholding from
the president the support Of congress
In the taking Of at least some meas
ures for the. protection Of American
rights. Debate on the exact means to
I be employed continued. but it became
evident that in the circumstances
which had developed. it was essential
that positive action be taken, and a,
once.
X + 4 4 X
It 10 practically certain that before
these lines are printed. final and
definite action will have been taken
!. by congress. A. present such action
II pending. The status at this writ
! Ing 10 that the house has passed, with
only - negative votes. including tha,
OF Mr.. Helsesen. \ resolution author.
ixans the president to supply NOR:
chant ships with arms for their pro.
/ faction at sea. Tho house resolution
5doss not authoriss the use Of "othe,
1pstramentaftiss." nor does Il permi,
tn government Insurance. Of ship.
carrying munftiona. Tho subject ha.
4 bsen dsbAtsd IN oonsrsaa ana the de-
s zion has besn delayed until the lasi
tble mensnt ~ ths objections q