New-York tribune., 1917-12-22
Germany Self-Revealed

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There are many peril5 in secret diplo-
macy. The greatest of these is that a
diplomats intimate outgivings may be
wire-tapped. The fame Of a diplomat of
the cynical reptilian type is never safe
unless his confidential dispatches remain
buried until he himself is ready for burial.
Bismarck died with a reputation more or
less intact because his trickeries were dis
closed only after it was too late to impair
his glory.
But the German diplomats Of to-day are
not so lucky. Zimmerman was caught in
the act Of making proposals to Mexico,
against our peace and safety, which were
as grotesque in their stupidity as they
were truculent and treacherous. Bern
storff strutted for nearly three years be-
fore the American public, protesting the
character of gentleman and the honor
able standards of conduct which the repre-
sentative of one friendly nation ordinarily
observes while the official guest of another
friendly nation. But all the while he was
plotting against our public order and Sc
curity and establishing an organization
here for the violation of our neutrality
and the commission of acts of sabotage,
incendiarism and espionage. Now comes
LuXburg, Germany's envoy to Argentina,
detected in intrigues as visionary and con-
temptible as Zimmermann's and heaping
insults on the government and the people
whom he had vainly hoped to make Ger
many's tools.
The German is at heart arrogant, over
bearing, unmannered. And his diplomats
are worthy of him. LuXburg expressed his
real feeling about the people Of South
America when he said Cn one Of the tele-
grams which were made public a couple Of
months ago); "Our attitude toward Brazil
has created the impression here that our
easy-going good nature can be counted on.
This is dangerous in South America, where
the people, under their veneer, are ind
ians." The new series of dispatches
breathes throughout the same deep con-
tempt for South American civilization and
the same lack of faith in the self-respect
Of the South American states.
Any one who will not truckle to Ger
many is a knave, probably "bribed" by the
Allies. When the people Of Argentina pro-
test against the destruction by Germany
of Argentine merchant vessels LuXburg
writes that public opinion is becoming un-
patriotic" When the Minister for Foreign
Affairs insists on frank discussion Of the
violations of international law committed
by German U-boats the Kaiser's repre-
sentative says that "the minister who is a
theatrical person, has shown an insane
cunning in preventing me from having an
interview with the President" When the
President seems willing to reach a peaceful
but honorable settlement with Germany.
he is represented as ready to agree to
humiliating compromise, based on a prom
ise by Argentina to send no more vessels
through the barred zone. When German
juggling and bullying fail altogether Lux
burg denounces Argentina and says that
Chile is "a much better governed country"
adding: 81 am convinced that we shall be
able 20 carry through our principal politi-
cal aims in South America, the mainten-
ance of an open market in Argentina and
the reorganization of South Brazil. equally
well whether with or against Argentina.
Please cultivate friendship with Chile"
Our government knows from experience
what value TO put on Luxburg's fabrica-
tions about Argentina's plans for the crea-
tion of South American alliance hostile
TO the United States. The illusions OF Ger
man diplomacy have been too much in evi-
dence for the last three years 10 inspire
confidence any more outside the German
Foreign Office. Luxburg's propaganda
cannot hurt us. II cannot even annoy us.
except in so far as we sympathize with
the resentment felt by the South American
peoples at laundering German mischief
making.
Argentina will know how TO deal with n
power whose representative has insulted
her after vainly trying to use her as a
catspaw. The Argentine government dis
missed Luxburg and broke off diplomatic
relations with Germany, following the dis
covery that Berlin intended to make 10
real reparation for the sinking of Argen-
tine ships. Ii is for the Argentine people