The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-02-23
Pacifist Sentiment Swept
Away and Lansing Keeps
Issue Clear.
GERMANY CAN HAVE
WAR IF SHE INSISTS
Split With Austria Likely
to Come Soon, Wash
inGtOn Hears.
EFFORTS TO BECLOUD
BLOCKADE REVEALED
Detention of Gerard and
Americans Only One Phase
of Diplomacy.

WASHINGTON, Feb. o.. President
Wilson is paving the way for public
opinion here to realize fully the COM
ing gravity OF the situation with Ger
many. The outstanding developments
Of Washington's Birthday were:
Sweeping away Of the peace at any
price pacifist sentiment.
News that n break with Austria
Hungary may now only be matter Of
hours.
The determination of Secretary Lam
sing to checkmate further efforts Of
Germany's spokesmen to cloud the
vital issue between the two Govern
ments.
Diplomats attach the highest impor-
tance to the speech of Senator Pom
creme Of Ohio denouncing the pacifists
and serving notice on Germany that
she can have war with this country II
she wants 1t, because it Is felt that the
speech must have had the fun indorse-
ment Of the President. It represented
to great extent the sentiments of
the President and Secretary Lansing
at this critical time.
One Of Its objects It is understood,
was to sweep aside the obstacles which
the President realizes he may have to
face from the pacifists when he goes
to Congress before the session ends
and asks for authority to protect
American seamen and American citi-
zens on their legitimate and peaceful
errands on the high seas
Effort to DeclOud Issue.
: Secretary Lansing has discovered un.
mistakable evidence that German agents
and German spokesncn are seeking to
! hold back the Presidents action by
means OF beclouding the vital submarine
blockade Issue with a maze of incidental
matters which concern the two Govern.
ments. Apparently the present aim OF
German diplomacy Is twofold, first to
persuade the German people that if war
comes Z Will be because the United
States has forced It and second to con-
centrate all efforts toward involving the
United states in collateral controversies
which can be settled at an opportuns
| time without affecting the question OF
, the blockade.
The detention O. the seventy-two
! American sailors captured on the Var
! ro"hale Is cited aS typical cXample
Germany detalnS these Americans fully
! realizing her action Will cause "A storm
| or protest In the United States and in
cite the Washington Government to de-
/ mand their release The impression is /.
! put out IN Berlin that the men viii nor
! be released until Germany j., certain her
| nationals are not to be detained in the
! | tn!ted States Obvious effort thus is
! made by the WilhelmstraSSe to make a
! controversial issue OF this and to bring
the United States to the point Of yir
| tually sending an ultimatum.
Then, just as the controversy appears
/ 10 have reached Its most acute stage
| Berlin gives way to the American de
| mand. Thus the tension between the
! Two governments over this case relaXes.
the hope is engendercd in the minds of
| many In this country that the situation
has become less serious and the pacifst
sentiment against war is greatly
| strengthened
And all the t!inc attention ts drawn
| away from the main ISSUE and GERMANY
| succeeds IN focusing attention in the
United States on irrelevant controversies
Of her own making.
! Other Parts Of same plan,
|
not new trick in diplomacy, but he is
understood to be somewhat surprised
, that Berlin is resorting TO 1t SO extern
SiNely. Not only the case Of the YarroW-
| dale. but the detention of Amba ssador
| Gerard and his party in Berlin the IN
diGnities heaped on Americans and the
present unw!llingncss Of Germany to per
NIT Americans to leave. are all appar-
entity part OF the same general plan.
II now appears that Amba SIS ador
Gerard and his party were detained for
III" specific purpose of making an issue
! with the United States. 1t was ba sed on
Berlin'S profeSscd belief that Ambassa-
dor Won B"rnStorff was being detained
here, although the state Department has
checked up wireless messages sent via
Sayvlle which demonstrate beyond doubt
that the Berlin Government knew all the
time that Count Won Bornstorn was being
accorded svary courtesy and would leave
as per schedule.
In fact the state Department has
found that messages went to Berlin from
Count Won Bcrnstorn himself assuring
) his Government Of his courteous treat
mcnt, To make the case complete inyes-
tigation was made as to whether his
message reached Germany without delay
or mishap and II las been asuvrtained
that It did.
| Nevertheless. IN spite OF this assur-
| ance the Berlin Government professed to
believe he was being badly treated and
, not allowed TO communicate with Ger
many or make arrangements for his sa!o
return. In the light OF this the assump-
tion among officials here Is that Ger
many deliberately made controversy
> over the detention OF Mr.. Gerard in Or
der to create tense situation and then