The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-06
IN SHADOW OF WAR WILSON
CONTINUES EFfUn1S Eos fEACE
Thought Still Hopeful Administration
Continues Preparing for Ev-
entuality of War.

Ing off diplomatic relations with Ger
many, President Wilson has made
bold stroke to range the moral force
of all other neutral countries along
with that of the United States in the
interest of peace. T
The president has suggested to all
the other neutrals that they break OF
diplomatic relations with Germany as
the United States has done and has in
structed all American diplomats III
those countries to report immediate
ly how the suggestion is received.
The opinion in diplomatic quarters
here is that European neutrals at the
very doorstep of Germany threatened
by her military power, will hesitate to
take such step. The effect of the
suggestion in other countries is being
eagerly awaited.
This was the only known develop
ment of first importance which came
ont of a day of tense waiting which
followed the actual announcement yes
terday of the break With Germany.
cloud Dispelled.
News that the American steamer
Housatonic had not been sunk without
proper warning and that no lives had
been lost, dispelled cloud which,
threatened the storm to follow the
first overt act against the United
States under the new war zone order.
Still hopeful that Germany will not
ruthlessly sacrifice American lives or
rights, the administration is waiting
developments, but leaving nothing un-
done to prepare the country for the
eventuality of war.
The situation as to Austria tonight
is unchanged. There is no doubt, how
ever, that diplomatic relations will be
broken with her when she announces
her adherence to Germanys course.
Invitation to Neutrals.
The Presidents invitation to neu-
trails to follow his action was con-
tanned in instructions to American
diplomats to announce the break with
Germany to the governments to which
they are accredited 1t was contained
in the following note:
"You will Immediately notify the
government to which you are accred-
tied that the United States, because Of
the German Governments recent an
nouncement of its intention to renew
unrestricted submarine warfare has
no choice but to follow the course
laid down in its note of April Is,
1916 (the Sussex note).
cit has therefore, recalled the
American ambassador from Berlin aud
has delivered passports to the German
ambassador to the Jn!teG States.
Wilson Sill H.peful.
"Say also that the president is re-
luctant to believe that Germany will
actually carry out her threat agains.
neutral commerce BIZ. - it ne don",
the president will ask congress to au-
thorize use of the national power to
protect American citizens engaged in
their peaceful and lawful errands OH
the seas
The course taken is, in the pres1-
dents view, entirely in conformity
with the principles he enunciated in
his address to the senate January II,
{Thef address proposing a world lea
que for peace).
"He believes it will make for the
peace of the world if other neutral
powers can find it possible to take
similar action.
Report fully and Immediately on
the reception Of this announcement
and upon the suggestion as to similar
action
Still working for Peace.
Thus it becomes apparent that IN
the shadow of war the president has
not abandoned his efforts for peace
and as the first step has moved to d.
rect the moral force of the neutral
world to compel Germany's return to
an observance of international ,aT
at sea.
The danger that bcc,.an diplomatic
relations between The United States
ard Germany wiu develop into State
of war is by no means inininized by
Presi5 ent Wilson's course and neither
he nor other officials OF the govern
ntSuL q = dUClI14S ll1S4I p Cpc4 1lIiO-i
for any eventuality.
Steps to protect American cities and
property against attack by foreign
sympathizers are day and night going
forward actively, although silently.
Preparations to prevent the disabling
of German war-bound ships in Ameri-
can ports are being taken, but they
are unannounced. The question OF
conveying American ships on their
voyages to the submarine zone still
is undecided, although the first I'M
preston is to let American ships pro-
ceed in a usual lawful way on the as
sumption that Germany has been
warned that an overt act means war.
May Not Change Immediately.
It is not impossible that the pres