The Colorado statesman., 1917-02-24
DROPS NOBLE TASK
AMERICA CAN'T LONGER KEEP
WATCH OVER WELFARE OF
PRISONERS OF WAR.
HAS DONE THE WORK WELL
With Prospect of other Neutrals Fol-
lowing Its Lead, What Nation Will
Guard the Interests of Those Un-
fortunates2
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


Washington.-In the stress of events
accompanying and following the break
Ing off of diplomatic relations between
the United States and Germany, has
anyone thought of what the severing of
the bonds between the two countries
means to hundreds of thousands, per-
haps millions of prisoners of war?
1t is within my knowledge that the
German government has been not only
satisfied but gratified at the manner /
which the wants of the German pris-
oners in Great Britain and in France
have been safeguarded by the Amerl-
cans connected with our country's en-
bassles in the two countries whose du-
ties included the oversight Of the men
taken on the field of battle, later to
enter the camplike prisons of France
and of England.
America, until Saturday, had in her
charge the welfare of perhaps a mil
lion prisoners of war in Russia, of an
other 100000 in France, of G0,000 in the
British isles and of hundreds of thou
sands in the German empire.
Not only did the members of the
American embassies in these countries
keep watch over the welfare of the
prisoners in the permanent camps of
the different countries, but on occasion
they travelled TO the different fighting
fronts there to observe the treatment
which was accorded prisoners. newly
taken in battle, while they were on
their guarded way to the temporary
internment camps at the rear of the
lines.
Who Will Care for Them2
Today all is changed. Diplomatic re-
lations between the United States and
Germany have been broken and the
United States must give over its allevi-
ating work of seeing to it that humane
treatment is given to the prisoners
within the territories of the warning
countries. The United States repre-
sentatives could not interfere but they
could make reports upon conditions
and the knowledge that these reports
We're to be made in many instances
has made the lot of the prisoners easier
TO bear.
1t is believed in Washington that sew
eral of the neutral governments are
likely to follow the lead of the United
States in severing diplomatic relations
with Germany. If this shall be the
case what is to be the fate of the pris-
oners?
1t is perfectly conceivable that with
In few days or Il few weeks there
may be no neutral country still having
diplomatic relations with Germany
which has the force, the equipment and
the temperament to do for the prison
ers of war what kindly Americanism
has done for them.
1t is the intention of all countries to
be kindly to prisoners of war, but meth
DDS are different and~-on occasion the
equation of the individual enters into
the matter and unless there be con-
stant vigil, abuses may prevail.
Must Be Friendly With All.
The oversight of the prisoners In
nearly all the warning countries must
be given into the hands of some neu-
tral nation which still has diplomatic
relations with Germany. The thing
works both ways. A country may be
in full diplomatic intercourse with the
allies and yet not with Germany, or in
full accord with Germany but not with
the allies. The embassy which has
charge of the prisoners must be in
friendly diplomatic relations with all
the warning countries.
Germany may turn over the care of
her prisoners to n nation which is in
Diplomatic intercourse with her today
but which may not be tomorrow. There
may be n succession of breakings away
from diplomatic ties within short
time. 1t will be difficult for the war
ring countries to arrange permanently
for the care of the lives and the health
of their prisoners in hand.
Conditions in Washington.
Washington in war scare time
is perhaps the most humanity interest
ing place on this continent. The
fact that attempts are made to
suppress excitement in White House,
state department, capitol and on the
streets makes the situation even the
more pulsing.
There is nothing like tenseness to
accentuate the evident gravity and
tragedy of things. On the day that the
German note came declaring that sub
marine warfare would go on after a
manner of conduct decided upon by
the extremists of the naval warfare
propagandists of the empire, the whole
aspect of things in the capital of the
nation changed. There had been an
evident relaxation of feeling and an
evident uplifting of the spirits of men
who believed that peace was at hand.
This condition came following the
presidents address to the senate.
Then in the passing of a minute condi-
tions changed, and while an attempt
was made to maintain calmness, ex-
element and apprehension were as
avident nc the SIM