Evening star., 1938-11-15

many were the SM
direct cause of n.r,. ,.,..
that order.
Technically, this does not mean a
severance of diplomatic relations nor
Is it possible to describe the action
as the formal recall of an Ambas-
sador because the Department OF
State does not indicate the length
OF time Ambassador Hugh Wilson
is to remain in the United States.
The purpose of the action, how
ever, is clear. 1t was intended to
register Americas disapproval of
what has happened and to generate
a discussion on all sides as to what
civilized nations can do to check
the barbarisms of the Nazi govern
ment. The Nazis, no doubt, will
seek to construe the event as a
routine affair, but, on the other
hand, official information given out
here was to the effect that the
Ambassadors orders to come home
were in connection with recent
happenings in Germany" so there
oan be no doubt that the American
Government has chosen this way
to indicate to the whole world that
the United States is deeply moved
BY the cruel course of action adopted
BY the Nazis.
May Recall Envoy.
II the Nazis take the hint, the
German government may recall her
Ambassador, too. This sometimes
completes the act which is not ex-
actly break in diplomatic relations
but the begenning of cool spell.
The business Of the American En-
bassy will be conducted by charge
d'affaires for an indefinite period.
The German Ambassador here is
personally on good terms with the
American Government and while,
apparently, his representations con-
eerning the American point of view
are totally disregarded in Berlin,
there is nothing to indicate that the
United States Government wants
the German Ambassador to leave.
AS matter of fact, the Department
of State has been talking directly to
the German Ambassador here on
many of the tangled questions of
the day rather than through the
Embassy in Berlin, leaving the latter
course for incidents arising out of
the specific rights Of Americans.
Mr.. Wilson is trained diplomat
and has been particularly useful in
gathering information concerning
events inside Germany. The instruc-
lions for him to return home to re-
port will in practical way mean
little because the Government here
has already been informed by cable,
radio and telephone of the essential
points in the Nazi campaign of ter
rorlsm.
Warning to Press.
; of international law the order to the
American Ambassador was issued,
especially since the treatment of
persons within German boundaries
Is not customarily subject for
action by another country. In this
instance the inhumane nature of
The treatment of minority popula-
Jon is a basic cause, but it would
1ot be surprising if the insulting
;one of the German cabinets warm
Jngs to the American press as to
what it may or may not discuss had
more to do with it than any other
single factor When a foreign gov
srnment undertakes to threaten the
press of this country and to state
publicly that innocent persons will
be injured unless the American press
TO foreign coercion of American in
stitutions, and this is something
which no government of character
will tolerate from another.
Although nothing has been said
officially about it, there is every rea-
son to believe that Ambassador Will
son will not return to Germany
unless the Nazi government shows a
decided change in its policy toward
minorities as well as toward the
property and persons of American
citizens resident abroad. AS to the
so-called spontaneous uprisings of
the German people" against Jewish
merchants and their properties, it
may be taken for granted that mobs
will in the future be unable to dis
tinguish between foreign -owned and
German-oWned properties.
Become Apprehensive.
When a central government has
10 little regard for the damage and
injury which may befall foreigners
and itself incites the riots, then for
eign governments naturally become
apprehensive lest further outbreaks
will directly affect foreign lives and
property.
The Nazi governments explana-
ton that the riots were not inspired
or melted by the Fascists themselves
were not accepted here as sincere,
especially since German cabinet
minister states ke was in sympathy
with the outbreaks.
The American government has
witnessed the outrages against Jews
and Catholics with a feeling that
somehow protest of significance
should be made to bring the Nazi
government to its senses. The first
step has been taken and If American
public opinion approves, there may
yet be a complete break In diplo-
matte relations. For the question
now really is whether the American