The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-06-10
LANSING LAID BARE
GERMAN PERFIDY
Ex-Ambassador Won Bernstorff Asked
His Government When 1t Was Going
to Break Its Promise About Sub
marine Warfare.

Schenectady, N. y. June lo.-"Prus
sianism and the idea of enduring peac,
among nations can never be brought into
harmony; compromise cannot even b.
considered" Robert Lansing, secretary OF
state declared here to-day in an address
as honorary chancellor of Union college
for 1918. Instance after instance from
his own experience at the head of Amer.
ica's foreign office were cited to prove his
point because, he asserted, Americans
even those intellectually equipped, have
but vague ideas of the attitude which
made Prussianism possible"
1T is a fact not generally known,
said Secretary Lansing, that within six
weeks after the imperial government had,
in the case OF the Sussex, given this gov.
eminent its solemn promise that it would
cease ruthless slaughter upon the high
seas, Count Won Bernstorff, approaching
the worthlessness Of the promise, asked
the Berlin foreign office To advise him in
ample time before the campaign of sub
marine murder was renewed in order that
he might notify the German merchant
ships in American harbors to destroy
their machinery, because he anticipated
that the renewal of that method of war
fare would, in all probability, bring the
United States into the war.
How well the ambassador knew the
character of his government and how
perfectly frank he was, is shown by the
fact that he asked for the information
without apology or indirection. The very
bluntness of his message shows he was
sure his superiors would not take offense
at the assumption that their word was
valueless and had only been given to gain
time and that, when an increase of Ger
many's submarine fleet warranted the
promise would be broken without hesita-
tion or conjunction. What a common
tary on Bernstorff's estimate of the sense
of honor and good faith of his govern
ment,
in view of this spirit of hypocrisy
and bad faith, manifesting an entire lack
of conscience, we ought not to be aston
ished that the Berlin foreign Office never
permitted a promise or treaty engage
ment to stand in the way of course of
action which the German government
deemed expedient. | need not cite as
proof of this fact the fragrant violations |
Of the treaty neutralizing Belgium and |
The recent treaty of Brest- Litovsk. This
characteristic of German |
foreign policy was accepted by German |
diplomats as a matter of course and as
neutral, if not a praiseworthy method,
IF dealing with other governments"
The causes of the war; Lansing said, |
were simply the German desire for world |
domination.
That was and is the central thought |
IF Prussianism," he said. ut exceeds
he cupidity of the governing and veal
by classes of the empire, it dazzled with
is anticipated glories and by its promise
If a boosted racial superiority the Ger
nan millions who were to be the instru-
nent of achievement. With a devotion
md zeal worthy of better cause, they
urned their energy into those channels
which would aid the ruling class.
I'VE must go on with the war. There
5 no other way. This last must not be
eft undone. We must not transmit to
'osterity legacy of blood and misery.
We may in this great conflict go down
nto the valley of shadows because our
oe is powerful and Injured to war. We
must be prepared to meet diseppoint-
nent and temporary reverse but we
aust, with American spirit, rise above /
hem; with courageous hearts we must
O forward until this war is won"