Слике страница
PDF
ePub

PRESIDENT WILSON CRITICIZED.

[Special cable to the New York Times.]

THE HAGUE, February 6.

Commenting on the breaking off of diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany, the Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant says:

"We are somewhat surprised that President Wilson allows himself to meddle in the affairs of other neutral states in suggesting that they follow America's example. There is every possibility that our government, which has to meet the exigencies of our country, sees things in a different light than the American Government does.

"America is a country well provided with iron, steel, grain, fats, and other food products. America does not border on belligerent countries. On the contrary, she is separated by a wide ocean, almost unattainable by the Central Powers. In American ports are countless German vessels, among them the largest and most magnificent of the German merchant fleet. All these, in the eventuality of war, could fall booty to America. Whereas America is self-supplying, Holland must rely on overseas and imports from Germany.

"But our overseas imports have been reduced to a minimum by the allies' policy. Germany delivers practically nothing. We have been prevented from laying in supplies for a rainy day. There is a scarcity of coal, grain, most food products, and fats. We have not enough iron and steel, and we are neighbors of Germany. President Wilson can well set an example without risking much. These are only a few points of the difference by which it can be seen that our international position is quite other than that of America.

"Our Government has not been sitting still during the last week, but has been in touch with other neutrals whose position is more similar to ours than is America's. Mr. Wilson's step has certainly awakened much feeling here. There are many who greet it as the dawning of a new day.

The Nieuwe Courant says:

"The neutrals have been robbed of their natural leader in peace action. The small nations of Europe that have kept out of the world-wide madness have been thrown on their own resources. Both for the future and present the position of the neutrals has grown decidedly worse.

"We need have no illusions about criticizing the 'seizure' of German ships in American ports. Confiscating vessels must be regarded as an action of war. Therefore we can not believe in this interpretation. It is perhaps only with the possibility of war in sight that special precautionary measures are taken. That the ships are still in German possession can not be doubted.

"The President does not intend to let American citizens be dictated to as to which ships to travel on, nor American ships as to which route they may follow. Mr. Wilson demands the right for them to travel peacefully on the free seas, and demands an acknowledgment of this right from Germany. American correspondents retain the right to remain in Germany, according to the Prussian-American treaty of 1798."

The Nieuwes Van Den Dag says:

"In any case the fact remains that if America goes to war the magnificent ships which are the pride of Germany's merchant fleet are lost for Germany. They would surely be most welcome as an increase to the entente's merchant fleet, and Germany would then be able to torpedo her own fine ships."

HOLLAND STOPS TRAFFIC WITH ENGLAND.

LONDON, February 6.

The port authorities of Holland have been notified, according to a Reuter dispatch from The Hague, that until further notice Dutch steamers will not be allowed to proceed to England.

The Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant says that several shipowners. have received the following telegram from The Hague: "The naval staff announces that the German Admiralty has informed them that Dutch ships which had already left North America on February 1 for English ports will be allowed to pass thereto but can not leave those ports without risk." The Courant adds that as the telegram was not clear some of the shipowners have gone to The Hague to seek an explanation.

The Dutch Legation in Paris issued the following public notice to-day:

"All Dutch subjects having military obligations to fulfill, whether in the militia reserve or territorials, must present themselves without delay to the Dutch Consulate."

FEAR WILSON'S PEACE VIEWS-SOME RUSSIANS THINK HIS INFLUENCE IN NEGOTIATIONS WILL NOT BE WELCOME.

[Special cable to the New York Times. Dispatch to the London Daily Chronicle.]

PETROGRAD, February 6.

Russian opinion was very agreeably surprised by the rupture between America and Germany. The general impression is one of unqualified pleasure, and all speculations as to the possible consequences of the German submarine campaign are completely obscured by the moral effect of Wilson's act.

Numbers of statesmen, including the minister for foreign affairs, M. Pokrovsky, M. Sazonoff, and Count Kokovtsoff, have expressed their views on the probable results of American intervention. For the most part they confine themselves to an estimate of the measures by which America could actively help the allies in the event of a declaration of war. Pokrovsky declines to forecast the future and dwells on the moral effect of the rupture of diplomatic relations. I am bound to add, however, that in some quarters a certain anxiety is expressed lest America's participation in the peace negotiations should have the effect of rather tying the hands of the entente powers in the matter of the reconstruction of Europe. This attitude must be regarded as the result of the impression left on many minds by Wilson's peace notes.

Among the comments the most interesting are those which attempt to give a national estimate of Germany's desperate action. Deputy Rodicheff, for instance, considers that the German declaration of merciless submarine warfare was either a gesture of insanity or was an intentional provocation of America in the hope of a speedy conclusion of peace. The Novoe Vremya develops this view more fully. The German Government, it assumes, was driven to despair, but for dynastic reasons dared not give up the struggle and accept the allies' terms. Its declaration of merciless submarining, the paper says, was directly calculated to provoke action on the part of America, so that with the whole world made hostile it could turn to its people and demonstrate the physical and moral impossibility of continuing the war.

TO INSURE FOREIGN SHIPS- -SWEDEN ADOPTING MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE

IMPORTS.

STOCKHOLM, February 6.

The first step for the encouragement of imports has been taken by the Riksdag by the adoption of a bill materially extending the powers of the State Insurance Commission. This commission was empowered, under the law of July, 1915, to insure Swedish vessels only for an amount not exceeding 80 per cent of their value, and in no case exceeding 2,000,000 crowns for steamers and. 200,000 crowns for sailing vessels, at a premium rate not exceeding 7 per cent.

The new measure permits the insurance of foreign vessels as well as Swedish, and the commission may insure for the full value of the vessel and cargo. No maximum is set. The new law removes the limitation on the premium rate and authorizes the commission also to issue accident policies for masters and seamen.

The shipping companies are still waiting to see what the next few days will bring forth.

The railway authorities have decided to withdraw, beginning February 10, passenger trains having runs aggregating 13,000 kilometers daily.

ATHENS GREATLY EXCITED- -SOME PAPERS SEE IN OUR MOVE CUTTING OFF OF THEIR FOOD SUPPLIES.

[Special cable to the New York Times. Dispatch to the London Daily Chronicle.]

ATHENS, Monday, February 5.

The rupture of diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany, reported here at a late hour last night from a German source, created great excitement. All papers comment on the situation at length this morning; the opinions vary a good deal. Embros thinks the rupture would not affect the provisioning of Greece, as the danger for Greek vessels would be the same after such an event as they are now. The Nea Himera, on the other hand, believes the consequences for Greece will be very disagreeable, as the food supplies for the country come mainly from the United States, and, in addition, all emigration will cease.

The Greek press has been placing great faith in Wilson's ability to bring about peace, and all newspapers point out with regret that

his efforts have come to an end with the breaking of diplomatic relations. Chronos, a military organ, argues that the rupture will increase the prestige of the central empires, because they stand forth as a terrible and invincible colossus, standing up against their adversaries, greatly superior in force. On this point Embros says the entry of the United States into the war will be of great moral value to the entente, and that it is not impossible that other neutral states, especially Spain, will follow the example.

ROME LOOKS TO NEUTRALS-HOPES OTHERS WILL FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

[Special cable to the New York Times.]

ROME, February 6.

Many citizens of neutral countries living here, especially Spaniards, Swiss, and South Americans, strongly sympathize with President Wilson's attitude and are using all their influence to induce their respective countries to follow the American lead, which is expected to make a league of neutral states master of the situation. The Tribune says: "The present moment furnishes an excellent chance for the neutrals to use their influence not to enlarge the conflict but to bring to reason the German Kaiser and his generals and statesmen."

ROME, February 5 (via Paris, delayed). · All the newspapers comment extensively on the German-American crisis and express the hope that neutrals without exception will associate themselves with the United States. The attitude of America has influenced subscriptions to the fourth war loan, which opened to-day, it being felt that intervention of the United States would hasten the conclusion of the war.

Ambassador Page has received many letters from soldiers at the front, some of them written in English by Italians who formerly lived in America, expressing approval of the attitude of Washington.

BARS SHIPS FROM SPAIN-BUT GERMANY WILL ALLOW THOSE ON WAY TO ENGLAND TO REACH THERE.

LONDON, February 6.

Reuter's Madrid correspondent cables that the note of the Spanish Government to the central powers will be delivered to-day and published in Madrid to-morrow.

The Correspondencia de Espana announces that Germany has consented to allow Spanish fruit ships now on their way to England with safe conducts to reach their destinations, but can not allow them to return to Spain.

The minister of marine has instructed the authorities at all ports to allow no ship to clear unless provided with proper appliances for saving life in the event the vessel is sunk.

The cruiser Catalonia is guarding the entrance to Las Palmas Bay to prevent the German and Austrian ships moored there from leaving. No vessel is allowed to enter or leave port between sunset and

sunrise.

DENMARK TO SAY NO-WILL TELL PRESIDENT POSITION OF AMERICA IS DIFFERENT, IT IS SAID.

[Special cable to the New York Times.]

COPENHAGEN, February 6.

According to an authentic report, the Danish Government's reply to President Wilson's note will say that there is so great a difference between the position of the United States and that of Denmark that no comparison is possible, and that the three Scandinavian Governments are consulting together in Stockholm on the basis of international law about their attitude to the new German blockade.

SWISS ANSWER NEGATIVE-COUNCIL'S REPLY TO PRESIDENT WILSON WIRED TO WASHINGTON.

LONDON, February 6.

Switzerland, says a Berne dispatch given out by the Wireless Press to-day, has sent a negative reply to President Wilson's invitation to follow the lead of the United States in breaking off diplomatic relations with Germany.

GENEVA, February 6.

President Wilson's special note to the Swiss Government inviting it to join the United States in action regarding Germany was discussed at length at an extraordinary meeting of the Federal Council. The text of the Swiss reply has been telegraphed to Washington and will be published here as soon as received by President Wilson. The Swiss Telegraphic Agency says that the report that Switzerland will take charge of German and Austrian interests in the United States is premature, although the Federal Council will probably accept the task.

Commenting on President Wilson's communication to Switzerland, the Journal de Genève says:

"Switzerland is bound by engagements differing from those of America, whose neutrality does not depend upon formal treaties. In these circumstances it can not be admitted that Switzerland can follow President Wilson and, without solidarity with other neutrals and without direct provocation, break either her relations with Germany or engagements entered into by Switzerland during the war, or abandon the multiple international interests which represent at present the clearly expressed will of the Swiss people.

66

That, however, is not a reason to prevent Switzerland from protesting strongly to Berlin and Vienna against measures which threaten neutral commerce, and there is no doubt that the Federal Council will make its voice heard."

The Neue Zuricher Zeitung says that President Wilson's action was the only solution to the situation caused by the German note. It remarks that the fact that execution would follow the German threat within a few hours left the United States no time to protest. The Zeitung regards the situation as most serious and looks for a declaration from President Wilson announcing reprisals that he will resort to in the event of Germany putting her threats into execution.

« ПретходнаНастави »