Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-03

None of the consuls seen this morn
ing by a Star-Bulletin representative
had received any official notification
Of the impending crisis, but they were
all intensely interested in the
general situation and most of them
made pertinent remarks relative To
the part their countries and other ma
tions might play in the latest move OF
the United States.
Represents Four Countries
| DR.. Augustus Marques, who repre-
sents Russia. France, Belgium and the
Republic of Panama in Hawaii, was
most enthusiastic over the recent &C
ton of the United States, but admitted
that il did not necessarily mean war.
! We shall shortly see just how far
| Germany will go with her bluff, Llr.
1 Marques predicted. IF she goes
through with her latest program there
! shall be no other recourse for the
] United States but war. If she does
not follow out her proposed sub
1 marine raVages We may never clash.
The doctor said in event of the
United States going to war with Ger.
many that the Allies would Of course
be- enormously assisted, but more in
commercial than a physical way.
"The United States navy is small;
the army is smaller, speaking COM
paratiyely with the great forces now
engaged in the great struggle. BY
crowding food, clothing, arms and
munitions to the Allied armies we
could UNNECESSARILY help" he says.
The doctor does not hazard what
the action of other neutrals will be,
but believes they are generally in
sympathy with Americas move. He
says the United States certainly has
not rushed in blindly, if war does
come, as the president has been fight
ing from the one one last step for
nearly two years. He AYERS, how
ever, that we should have stepped in
at the very first-When Belgium was
invaded. =..... "
War Is Observation-Disclosures
Handing an ambassador his pass.
ports is practically identical to de-
claring war, according to E. L. S. Cor
don, consul for Great Britain and
representative of Italy, and almost
invariably followed by a formal an
nouncement of hostilities by either
country involved.
Gordon believes that the firm stand
now taken by the United States and
her possible entry as belligerent
with the Allies will be highly accept
able to the Allies and that other neu-
trails will look to America for a
leader, as they have already done
have arisen between Germany and
neutrals during the war. /
L. M. Vetlesen, consul for Norway,
says the situation is far more seri-
Gus for Norway and other Scandina.
Wan countries and that they will prob
ably do everything they can to avert
war between Germany and themselves |
Too Near Home -
Even though tie United States
goes to war with Germany, do not
feel that Norway or any Of the neu-
trails will be likely to follow suit" he |
says, "for Germany's submarines are
too close home to De comfortable and
their coast lines are too long to be
efficiently patrolled by inadequate
navies." ....-
Vetlesen declares that Germany still !
has time to back water" on her latest |
program before she goes to war with |
the United States.
"She may be surprised how prompt.
ly the United States has acted" he
says, and revoke the more severe |
portions of her order" -. !
The Norwegian consul says there is !
even possibility that some Of the |
Scandinavian countries would throw |
their lot on the side of Germany, pro-
viding some seemingly intolerable act |
of the Allies was perpetrated upon |
them at this time.
Watching and Waiting
Norway and other Scandinavian |
countries will undoubtedly adopt the |
famous watch and wait policy now"
is yetlesen's prediction. "and with
hold all action and tangible comment |
until Germany actually starts her pro-
posed warfare on the shipping of the |
world"
Vetlesen declares it is remarkable |
how Norway has maintained her neu-
trality as long as she has and says it /
was only possible by maintaining the |
strictest censorship on all official |
acts and utterances in that country.
H. M. Won Holt, who represents the |
interest of Holland in Hawaii, says he |
has only commercial relations with |
that country here and very little OF |
them and therefore can say nothing |
about the general situation.
''You know more about it than ] /