Mohave County miner. [volume] (Mineral Park, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1882-1918, 1917-04-21


gard the submarine question as a
menace likely to draw Spain into
war;"
"The submarine question is undoubt-
eddy serious" he rplied. But all
things are relative, and in considering
the submarine question we should
have regard to its relative bearing on
the larger and supreme question of
preserving a policy of peace as
against war. The danger zones traced
around the Entente nations, while
they do not touch the coast of Spain
yet they completely encircle US at a
distance. This kas had serious eff
feet on our seaborne commerce and
has also affected our home industries
to some extent. Spain's natural re-
sources of iron, fruit, oil and many
other products find their outlet in
England, France, Germany and many
of the European countries, as we'll as
to North and South America. And on
the other hand our metal industries,
railways, factories and public utilities
depend to a considerable extent on
getting their necessary Supplies of
coal from the Cardiff coal-fields of
England. But the danger zones en-
circling US have interfered with both
these normal and essential branches of
our Grade, expectation and importa-
ton.
although the government is giving
the most careful consideration to solv-
ing these questions, it has never for a
moment regarded them as presenting
an issue likely to involve Spain in war.
Our elm is to mitigate the efferts in
every way possible. We have reason
to hope this can be accomplished"
"Have the losses in Spanish ships
and cargces been grcat?", was asked.
Comparatively slight" he replied.
"Our merchant shipping is not large
and such losses &c = has suffered have
been in small craft, suually through
accident due to the risk of passing
through the dangerous zones lying
around the Entente nations with whom
our ships seek to carry on their nor
NAL trade. There have been effective
representations which we believe are
being met with a suitable regard for
our rights and our interests, not only
in the particular cases which have
arisen, but also in ameliorating the
general effect of the damage which
the system indirectly inflicts on
SPAIN"
The President was asked if the ac-
ton of the United States in breaking
relations with Germany, added to the
responsibilities CT Spain as the fore
most neutral nation standing between
the belligerants.
1t has added very greatly to our
responsibilities" he replied. "And yet
it is a role which Spain accepts with
certain degtee of satisfaction and
pride, in the belief that it enables us
to perform a useful service to both
sides and to the world at large. The
added responsibilities of a diplomatic
nature are in themselves considerable,
for now that the United States no
longer represents the Entente nations
and the Central Powers vis-a-vis of
each other at the various capitols,
Spain has been charged very largely
with these important duties. We were
recently pleasd to accept the repre-
sentation of the United States at Berl-
in on the withdrawal of yaur ambas-
sador, and to take over a number of
the other representations which the
United States had carried on up t.
that time.
GAS such channel of communication
between the belligerents," was sug-
gested, "would it not fall to Spain to
transmit any proposition one of the
beligerants, or group of belligerents,
might wish to communicate to another
belligerent or group"
THAT, of course, would be a part of
the duty of acting as Intermediary.
But in such action Spain would be
simply the avenue of communication
a purely physical act of tranmission-I
without necessitating the slightest in
itiative or responsibility on her part"
"But does not the new position of
Spain, as the foremost neutral, give
her the opportunity of initiating
measures of peace when the opportune
moment arrives?" was asked.
The President of the Council held
up his hand in warning manner. He
he'd been smiling and most gracious up
to this moment, but now the sternness
of his look indicated that the question
was getting on danperous o-round |