The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1915. "DANGER OF A COLLISION"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2369, 27 January 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1915. "DANGER OF A COLLISION"

The London Spectator takes an unduly alarmist view of the controversy between Britain and America regarding the contraband question when it declares that the two nations are "drifting towards the danger of a collision.'' A great war inevitably causes a certain amount of interference with the trade of neutral nations, and the economic pressure exerted by the British Navy on otir enemies has had the effect of restricting the market for certain commodities exported from the United States. This has naturally led to representations, and protests, and explanations. A little friction has taken place, and Germany is doing her utmost to magnify the trouble. This was only to De expected; but, apart from the German element, the people of tho United State's /have no desire to quarrel with Great Britain and her Allies. Of course American exporters want to do as much business as possible, and they naturally feel a certain amount of annoyance when the measures taken by Britain to prevent contraband reaching her enemies clash with their interests. Every care is, however, being taken by the British authorities to prevent unnecessary interference with neutral commerce, and the American Government is not at all likely to push matters _to extremes. The danger of a collision is very remote indeed. The Daily Chronicle points out that the relations between Britain and America are quite cordial, and it is unreasonable to suppose that such occurrences as the jDacia incident are likely to seriously imperil them. The Germans are grievously disappointed at the failure of their efforts to create discord between Britain and America. A cablegram which we publish in another column states that Danish, messages declare that the feeling in Berlin against the United States is very bitter. Ever since the commencement of the war tho. Kaiser and his advisers have been doing their utmost to secure the sympathy of the American people. Everything possible has been done to put Germany's case in the most favourable light, and to misrepresent the actions of Britain and her Allies. Many of Britain's best friends have deplored the fact that the British Government has done so little to counteract the effects of this organised campaign of misrepresentation; but the good sense of the majority of the American people has enabled them to come to a right judgment as to the merits of the conflict. The horrible brutality of German methods of warfare has shocked the moral sense of the average American, and tho deliberate violation of international law by the Kaiser's troops has met with_ the severest condemnation. American criticism of such barbarous conduct as that which characterised the recent German air raids is hotly resented by the Germans who have at last discovered that it is hopeless to expect much sympathy from the United States, and they are ,no longer able to conceal their _ anger and resentment. An influential section of the America,)!' people are of opinion that their Government should make a clear and strong declaration as one of the parties to The Hague Convention, and. enter a most emphatic protest against Germany's utter disregard for the laws of war. President Wilson's attitude in this matter has been deplorably weak, _ and has met with very severe criticism in his own country. It is, however, satisfactory to know that American public opinion is becoming so decidedly antagonistic to Germany that tho Germans are now beginning to throw off tho mask of friendship and to return scorn for scorn.