Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-04-07
SATURDAY, APRIL Z, 1917.
CARELESS OBLTQUITIES.
(Brooklyn Eagle.)


brooklyn Eagle.)
Our behavior contrasts consider
ably with that of the Washington
Government. Il DR.. Alfred thinner
mann. German Secretary of Foreign
Affairs.
1t does. The "behavior' of the Wash
ington government began May Is, 1915,
about a week after the Lusitania was tor
pedoed. 1t took the form of a note, in
which threre was more than a gentle hint
regarding strict accountability, and in
which there was more than a gentle hint
that this country would not omit any word
or any act necessary TO the performance
of its sacred duty of maintaining the rights
of the United States and its citizens and of
safeguarding their free exercise and en-
joyment. With the behavior thus began,
all the rest has harmonized. The track
was long, but straight. 1t developed Meth
er curves nor switches.
Contracts came soon enough. The I'm
perial government almost wept. 1t gave
expression TO its deep regrets that the
nationals of n~eutrals had lost their lives.
1t becomes more particularly lachrymose in
the ease of the Gulflight, the attack upon
which was attributed to an nnfortunate ac-
cident, declaring itself ready to furnish full
recompense for the damage sustained.
With the behavior thus begun everything
else has harmonized. subject TO the trivial
distinction that the German track was long
but not straight. Wherever and whenever
there were no switches, there were curves.
DIR. Zimmermann's allusion to contrasts
was made in the Reichstag yesterday. II
was part of a reply to the allegation by the
leader of the socialist minority that Ger
many's offer of an alliance with Mexico
had aggravated the situation with this
country. The Foreign Secretary told the
story os this offer in what purports To be
in full. The backbone of his defense is
that the offer was contingent, which is to
say it was a measure of precaution. Only
Ia the event of war between Germany and
this country were Mexico and Japan to be
asked to join the Central Powers. And,
but for the 'leak". neither Mexico nor Jap
an would be any the wiser.
Even an adversary is entitled to his day
in court, but he should make an effort to
command there at least some degree of
credence of confidence. DIR. Zimmerman
makes a parade of his astuteness, So
called. al wrote no letter to Carranza: |
was not so naive" he says, meaning there
by that he knew a trick worth two of that.
But, careful as he was, a cog slipped. He
says ne is now trying TO discover how the
eat came out of the bag, and he hopes to
be able to show that il escaped after a
fashion not creditable to this country, to
which poor consolation he will be welcome
should be successful in securing it. lie
could make better use of his time.
OF course, the actual fact j. that there
was 40 contingency" The leader of the
socialist told nothing but the truth when
he said that the offer aggravated the sit
uation with this country, but the real die
was cusi when Won Bernstorff filed at
Washington a memorandum saving that in
certain zone from and after February |
sea traffic would be stopped without fur
Their notice. Almost immediately there
after Won Bernstorff was told to 90 home.
When a eat in the bag was. sent to Mexico
the German foreign secretary was in full
possession Of the whole program. He knew
it to be subject 10 no contingency what
ever.
Transparent masks are useless. One
was worn in the Reichstag yesterday. How
long ago Germany concluded to relapse
into Won Tirpitzism i not known here, but
some light has been thrown upon the sub
ject. Apropos of the enforcement of the
policy Of unrestricted warfare. the Ger
man Chancellor Numbered into an admis-
sion: "This moment has now arrived. Last
fall the time was not ripe, but today the
moment has come when, with the greatest
prospect Of success, we can undertake