The Washington herald., 1917-03-02
A stranse Alliance.
New York rmesA

NNeW 1ork TtmeA.l
the desperate plight Of Germany Is re-
vealed with startling distinctness by
her overtures to Mexico to Join with
her and Japan in an alliance against
the United States as disclosed this morn
Ing with the full authentication of
lofficial documents. Through Count Won
Bernstorff at Washington. Foreign Sec
retary Zimermann. on January 49, two
weeks before the new barred zone was
proclaimed, approached Carranza with the
proposal Of an alliance, holding out
the alluring inducement of financial aid
and the chance to reconquer Texas, Ari-
zona. and New Mexico.
This Is sufficiently grotesque, but not
less so than the role assigned to Japan.
The sagacious government Of that en-
pire has just concluded a treaty with
Russia by which she obtains substan-
tial advantages and practically a free
hand In carrying out her plans of ex-
pansion and influence in China. through
which she aspired to become the mis-
tress OF the Far East. Japan is also
firmly bOund to Russia and the other
allies in the war against Germany.
With us she is on terms of friend
ship. and the only difference between
the two countries relates to the treat
ment of her subjects in some of the
Far Western States Of the Union Ger
many expects her. now an enemy In
arms, to turn suddenly about and be-
come friend. to fight by her. side
against the powers with which she is
in alliance.
Overt Act and Overt Fact.
New York Sum-
The overt act" said President Will
son. has not occurred"
Before he spoke it had. The sinking
Of the Laconia with further loss of
American life is reported to have met
the Presidents own test OF recognition
at sight.
1t is something to know an overt act
when you see one. A large number Of
persons do not have to behold murder
to identify it, however
II We have become too wonted to mur-
der in the dark shape which II assumed
:or the Americans on the Laconia. that
an overt fact so shocking that the
country may well consider who is to
blame.
New York World.
The pages of American history are
stained with the blood of the victims Of
Indian atrOcity. but the mind Of no Amer
lean Indian was ever more exultantlv
bloodthirsty than the German mind that
conceived this campaign Of organized
and compelled its servilc subjects to car
ry out the decrecs Of butchery. The In
dian too fought from ambush but at
least he refraned from massacring those
whom he called his friends German saw
agery spares nobody, neither women nor
children. neither the hclpIcsslv old nor
the helplessly young, neither foe nor
friend.
Pro-German prOpagandists. professional
pactfists and rCaCtiOnaTy Republicans
conspirtnB to levy political blackmaiI
upon the President are linked into an un-
holy alliance against the honor and dig
nifty OF the United States All of them
are assistant Germans, playing Ger
many's game and giving aid and comfort
to German ruthlessncss.
There have been many shameful scenes
in Congress. but no other scene so
shameful as that which is now staged in
the Capitol. If Congress, in It's sluggish
indifference to the honor and dignity of
the United States as wei las the rights
and sovereignty of the United States is
truly representative Of the American peo-
pie. then God save the Republic,
New York Herald.
BY vote Of IT to ( the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs modified
the flood bill, very materially weakening
1t by striking out the provision living the
President authority for the use Of Other.
instrumentalitiPS'' than resort to rlaC!n-
guns on American merchantmen The
MEMBERSHIP of that committee is Il Dem