Evening star., 1941-06-14
Protest May Be Warning.

Plainly the American Government
Will express itself in a formal pro-
test which will make a complete
record of the Robin Moor incident.
But the warning in such a protest
could put the German submarine
commanders on notice also that the
next time they fire on American
vessels, all German submarines lay
themselves open to attack by air
planes and warships of the United
States if found anywhere in the
Western Hemisphere waters.
In the period before the last
World War, the United States ex-
changed notes and told Germany
she would be held to strict ac-
Countability for the loss of Ameri-
can lives and property. Today it
may be found necessary not only
to repeat such statement but
also to declare that since German
submarines have been instructed to
follow hostile policy toward
American shipping, it becomes nee
essary for the United States Navy
TO drive any German submarines
from the waters of the Western
Hemisphere within the geographic
cal limits already described by
President Roosevelt in his fireside
chat May 81.
Just what orders have been given
to the commanders of American
naval vessels and the air patrol
ecross the Atlantic is not known,
but it will be recalled that Admiral
Raeder recently announced a policy
of sinking at sight vessels of any
nationality crossing the oceans and
destined to belligerent ports. The
Robin Moor was on her way to a
South African port which is, Of
course, part of the British Empire.
But the United States does not
recognize an effective blockade
against South Africa and insists
that unarmed merchant ships be
subjected to search and seizure in
the historic way that neutral ships
have always been handled in war
time. The fact that a German SUBJ
marine cannot take merchant
prize into port is no justification
for the attack on the vessel or for
the placing of the lives of neutral
citizens in jeopardy.
Administrations Mind Made Up.
Should the United States Gov
ernment protect her citizens on
the high seas or should the United
States surrender to Germany and
Withdraw from the oceans, thus
abandoning traditional rights? This
question may be debated outside of
Washington, but it is already re-
solved inside of Washington so far
as the administration is concerned.
1t may be predicted that any future
incidents like the Robin Moor will
not be handled with diplomatic
protests but by orders to sweep
the Atlantic of Nazi submarines.
Germany doubtless will not want
such situation to come to pass
and presumably will diSavoW the
acts of her submarine commander
and give assurances that his action,
being q mistake, will not be re-
peated. If that policy is not fol-
lowed, the United States Govern
ment will shortly know it, and all
doubts as to Herr Hitler's hostile
intentions toward America. will be
removed.
The effect on American public
opinion of the attack on ship on
the sides of which the American
flag was plainly painted and where
there was no doubt OF the nation
atty of the submarine is being
awaited in Washington before
further steps are taken. Either one
of Hitler,s naval commanders has
made a grievous error or else Amer
ica's battle of the Atlantic is on
and many such an incident can now
be expected.
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