Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-16
THE SPANISH POINT OF VIEW
ny FREDERIC J. IiAskIN

WASHINGTOS. d. c.. Juno IS
spain stands out as the most important
vi inc european neutrals. She has
most or the diplomatic business OF the
world ON hcr shoulders since America
entered the war. No neutral nation
certainly not Amcrlca--has studied
every step and passing phase of the
great conflict as keenly and closely
as Spain. from the very BEGINNING.
No neutral had better facilities for OBJ
tanning Information. For all of which
reasons Spanish views OF the war are
entitled TO respectful consideration,
ana more especially interesting is the
spanish view OF unlimited submarine
warfare. and tho American declaration
OF tho existence of n state OF war
This article, docs not pretend to ex-
press tho official Spanish views In
deed. there arc no such views, strictly
speaking. The powers are divided, and
the cabinet has rendered it's resigna-
tlon. But voluminous and often re-
inarkably cen-sightcd studies OF the
situation ilrc made by leading Spanish
exports In world politics, and such
studies arc interesting and valuable
to America to-day. The outsider sees
most of the game.
These Spanish opinions differ on
many points, but they are one In re-
Eardins the submarine question az q
whole. and vary significant whole,
from August. 1914, down to the present
DAY u is regarded as barometer OF
the hopes of Germany, an Indicator
sensitive to every military. political
and economic problem that vcxcs the
central powers.
The more active the German sub
marines. according to this view, the
more arc the Germans dcspairing of
victory on land. When they made con-
ccssions to ncutrals in the past such
concessions came at times when pros
poets we're bright for their armies. 1t
is worth while to consider the record
OF the submarine in connection with
the ups and downs OF land Warfare
AT first there was no question OF un-
restricted submarine warfare, or any
thing like II. That was when Ger
many expected to win the war with her
armies In three months. On the 5th Of
their first blow, when the U-2l sank the
cruiser Pathfinder. In 1914. eight
other battleships were sunk by subs,
eliminating in the sinking Of Dread
nouSht on January 1. 1915. All this
was in the way OF naval warfare, d.
rected against battlcships Germany
was confident Of early victory.
IT soon began to be evident that the
war would be long. The allied block
cue "ao tib 1TOuuu y.
AS direct result. Germany on Feb
ruary 81. 1915. proclaimed her first
submarine war zone" hesitatinEly-
and apolog The zone followed
the allied coasts for the most part,
and II was announced that neutral
ships would run the same risks as
those OF belliGcrents. In excuse 1t
was claimed that allied merchantmen
were using neutral flags. and that In
war 1t is impossible to avoid acct
dents"
Drew American Protert.
This proclamation drew forth the
first American note OF protest, the
opening crack Of the chaSm that now
lies between the two countries. Pres
ident Wilson characterized the German
declaration as without precedent"
and pointed out that the destruction
of an American ship would be an act
difficult to reconcile with friendly re-
lations.
Things were not going well for Ger
many on land, but the situation was
far from desperate. So on February
IS Germany was disposed to consider
the American point of view. The pro-
cess of consideration was marked only
by the sinking of the Lustania, Il dis
tinct. although closely related issue.
because the Lustapia was British
ship. Followed tho longest of tho sub