UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1916, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

. ON THE VERGE OF WAR. ACTIVITY OF PRO-GERMANS. I . ' London, Feb. Vi. The Daily Telegraphs New York correspondent says it is understood'that the Entente will not accept America's proposals for disarming merchantmen. ProGermans loudly assert that the only alternative is to warn Americans not to travel in armed vessels, and to compel such vessels to leave American ports within twenty-four hours of arrival. The correspondent doubts if the threat contained in Germany's latest Note is likely to succeed. The Morning Post's Washington correspondent, takes a more serious view. He considers that the Note may cause serious friction. Vessels of the American line on which most Americans now travel do not carry munitions, and Germany has no interest in sinking them, but will devote her energies to sinking ,the Entente's vessels, feeling sure that America will not make serious trouble if people of belligerent nations are murdered on belligerents' merchantmen. The Evening News' Washington ■ correspondent says that the Austro-German Note has caused the gravest apprehension in administrative circles. Mr. Wilson knew the Note was imminent. Colonel House told Mr. Wilson on January 25 of Germany's decision, hence Mr. Wilson's remark on-the 27th: "We cannot tell what America's international relations will be to-morrow." Mr. Wilson realised the impossibility of distinguishing armed and unarmed ships on the seas, and is convinced that if another unarmed ship is sunk diplomatic relations must cease. The severance will be followed, so Colonel House informed him, by an immediate declaration of war by Germany^

ANGLOPHOBISTS AND THE BLOCKADE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, Feb. 13. The Times' correspondent at Washington states that the Hearst press is discussing an immense and drastic policy towards the blockade. The Anglophobe leaders are marshalling their forces in Congress. President Wilson's recent sensational speeches have startled the publie, who were seeing the German difficulty easily settled. They imagine that President Wilson's talk of external dangers refers t.o Britain, but nevertheless the little popular dissatisfaction at the blockade is insufficient to overweigh the general desire for no war. THE CAT LET LOOSE. i AMERICAN UNEASINESS. ! Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Feb. 14, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 13. The Times correspondent at Washington says that the cat is out of the Prussian diplomatic bag. Count Bernstorff, with rare cynicism, made the delivery of his famous Lusitania memorandum the occasion of an announcement of war on merchantmen. This explains the lack of jubilation in American official circles over the apparent settlement of the Lusitania, and it is feared that America has been manoeuvred into a most difficult position. It is assumed that Mr. Lansing will point out in his memorandum to the Allies that America believed they were accepting the proposals, presumably yielding to the insistent nagging of the Central Powers, in the hopes thereby to facilitate a settlement regarding the Lusitania. Berlin's record seems ominously strategical, for Germany has not only found a convenient! way of nullifying the practical results of President Wilson's Lusitania victory, but has stirred up a controversy fraught with unpleasantness to AngloAmerican relations and with considerable danger to American prestige. .' The German press unanimously applaud the memorandum, describing it as an extremely important step which may prove the turning point of the war.