THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, JANUARY 11. 1917. MR. GERARD'S SPEECH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16435, 11 January 1917, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, JANUARY 11. 1917. MR. GERARD'S SPEECH.

American statesmen have an unfortunate weakness for yielding to the existing influence of their own oratory. To recall a once famous phrase, they become "intoxicated with the exuberance of their own verbosity," and apparently spend many anxious days in evolving explanations for glowing sentences and flowery perorations lightly flung at enthusiastic audiences or receptive listener*. Mr. Wilson would doubtless give much if his amazing declaration that his country was " too proud to fight" had been drowned unheard in the applause that greeted it. Mr. Lansing has lately been at much trouble to remove the impression he conveyed that America stood on the very verge of war and might plunge at any moment into the world-battle. Now, Mr. Gerard, the American Ambassador to Berlin, has been officially requested to explain an " after-dinner" speech in which he announced that the relations between Germany and America were never better, that as tang as the Kaiser retained his present councillors and generals these relations would certainly continue, and that he " brought the olive branch from Mr. Wilson." These are but notable instances of a notorious American weakness, a weakness which must be appreciated and understood if we arc to attach their true significance to such astonishing utterances, It is impossible to dismiss them as meaningless, for they are inherently meaningful, and if we cannot take them quite literally we can extract from them the motives which inspire them, and the purpose which underlies them. Mr. Wilson has undoubtedly determined from the beginning to maintain at all costs the neutrality of the United States. Mr. Lansing as certainly believed that it would be impossible to maintain neutrality if the German submarine campaign was carried to extremities and actually waged on American coasts. Mr. Gerard has certainly been instructed during his visit to Washington that unless the Germans drive the American Government into a corner—which the German Chancellor does not wish to do— may rely upon the neutrality of the Wilson Administration.

This view is evidently taken by the Tirpitz faction, which advocates unrestrained and unlimited " frightfulness" and the torpedoing without warning of anything afloat which German submarines can reach. Mr. Wilson may bo " too proud to fight" though American citizens should be done to death, in defiance of international agreement and civilised understandings, within Chesapeake Bay itself, but Mr. Lansing is well aware that the American populace is as a heap of gunpowder upon certain domestic questions, and that an explosion would be inevitable if this gunpowder, were fired by. German out-

rages that touched tho peculiar national pride. Among the means taken by the United States to impress nationality upon the hordes of all nations and tongues who have found their homes under the government of Washington is a deliberately and constantly inculcated veneration for tho flag. Not even Mr. Wilson could maintain neutrality if tho Stars and Stripes failed to protect American ships in open waters in lawful business from murderous and piratical attack by submarines. Mr. Lansing's fears wore presumably aroused by the anticipation that such attacks were involved in the German plan of submarine campaign. Mr. Gerard's speech was certainly inspired by a desire to nullify the feeling which must have been aroused by Mr. Lansing's statements and to proclaim that Mr. Wilson's policy of neutrality was not threatened by the policy of Bethmann-Hollweg however it might be affected by would-be advisers of the Kaiser.

Mr. Gerard's speech may have been unwise, but his purpose cannot be mistaken nor tho harmony of his purposo with Mr. Wilson's policy questioned. The governments of Berlin and Washington are united in seeking to end the war, and Germany may well make such slight concessions as will placate American susceptibilities in return for Mr. Wilson's support to her peace proposals and his diplomatic treatment of submarine outrages as at present perpetrated. Even Mr. Wilson will not be anxious to pose before the world as tho bosom-friend and political confidant of the Kaiser, but if Mr. Gerard has thus far exceeded instructions it is impossible to deny or to question that his instructions have been "to carry tho olive branch" to the present rulers and directors of Germany. It is under Bethmann-Hollweg and Hindenburg that Belgians and French are being deported," neutral and belligerent merchantmen sunk without warning, prisoners of war infamously treated, but neither theso international crimes, nor the Armenian massacres, nor any' other outrages can be expected to affect the friendly relations of Germany and America. Mr. Gerard would hardly have been so unrestrainod and eloquent on the subject had he not forgotten, in true American fashion, that there are occasions upon which if speech is silver silence is golden. The Tirpitz faction denounces him as an enemy, demands his recall, and insists that America has accomplished her aims and is indulging in threats. Ambassadors have been recalled for less, but the recall of Mr. Gerard would in no way imply that the pith of his speech was not the expression, however indiscreet, of Mr. Wilson's confirmed determination to remain neutral under all circumstances, and to secure peace upon any terms as soon as possible.