NOTEWORTHY FEATURES

CURRENT HISTORY presents in this

number several features which will prove of especial value. "The Defense of the British Blockade," Sir Edward Grey's official reply to the representations of the United States regarding interference with neutral trade, has not heretofore been printed in this country,

a document of profound interest to all the neutral nations. The detailed account of what occurred in the Belgian Foreign Office on the fateful night of the German ultimatum, as related by the Belgian Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs, is a moving drama of thrilling interest, and a human document that will alThe complete ways rivet attention. correspondence leading up to the final triumph of President Wilson's diplomacy in relation to submarine warfare is given in chronological order; nowhere else has it appeared in this permanent form, with all the documents collated into one consecutive serial. It is a completed chapter of American diplomacy which will rank with the most momentous in our nation's annals. The dramatic chapter of Ireland's ill-starred adventure in independence is also given in completed form, with the official copy of the declaration of independence and a careful and correct narrative of what actually occurred. It is an ideal form in which to preserve the story of one of the most memorable episodes growing out of the war. These are only four features of the June number, but they serve to emphasize the of CURRENT HISTORY, namely, to purpose (Vol. VII., P. 399.]

is concerned in the war was shown at the recent conference of the Allies at Paris. The following countries were officially represented, and acted in concert:

Total...

.72,563,976 839,800,000

Estimating the total population of the earth at 1,600,000,000, and the superficial area of the world at 135,420,000 square kilometers, it will be observed that the Allies alone represent over onehalf the total. The Teutonic and Turkish Empires and Bulgaria, including the German colonies, represent a population of about 150,000,000 and an area of 6,150,000 square kilometers. Hence the total number of people actually involved in the war is approximately 1,000,000,000 and the area of "hostile territory" is nearly 80,000,000 square kilometers, or about 32,000,000 square miles. The area of the United States is 3,200,000 square miles, hence the warring nations repre

sent ten times the population and ter times the area of our nation.

THE

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TALK OF PEACE

HE indirect references to peace in Germany's submarine note to the United States, with the Pope's letter to President Wilson and a cloud of less definite peace rumors, have caused much talk, but have no solid significance as yet, beyond emphasizing the self-evident fact that Germany is weary of the war. The failure at Verdun, the pressure of the blockade, the tightening food crisis in Germany, the resignation of Dr. Delbrück, Minister of the Interior, and the proposed appointment of a "food dictator "-these are straws that seem to show an adverse wind of destiny for the Central Powers and an increasing desire for the end of the war. For the real situation regarding peace, however, one must question not Germany, but the Entente Allies, who now have the stronger battalions. The answer is found in the words of President Poincaré, spoken at Nancy on May 14:

France will not expose her sons to the dangers of new aggressions. The Central Empires, haunted by remorse for having brought on the war, and terrified by the indignation and hatred they have stirred up in mankind, are trying to make the world believe that the Allies alone are responsible for the prolongation of hostilities-a dull irony which will deceive no one.

Neither directly nor indirectly have our enemies offered us peace. But we do not want them to offer it to us. We do not want to submit to their conditions; we want to impose ours on them. We do not want a peace which would leave Imperial Germany with the power to recommence the war and keep Europe eternally menaced. We want peace which receives from restored rights serious guarantees of equilibrium and stability. So long as that peace is not assured us, so long as our enemies will not recognize themselves as vanquished, we will not cease to fight.

Sir Edward Grey has said the same thing in his own way. Peace is a year nearer than it was a year ago, but the evidence of it is not yet in sight. As Secretary Lansing pointed out a few days ago, the time has not yet come for any neutral to take the initiative in that direction.

THE

ENLARGING OUR ARMY

HE Conference Committees of House and Senate, to which their differences on the new Army bill were referred, reached a compromise which Congress doubtless will promptly ratify; hence, by the end of May, our first measure of preparedness will become law. The compromise provides as follows: The maximum strength of the regular army in time of peace will be 11,000 officers, 175,000 men, in addition to the enlisted men of the Signal, Medical, and Quartermasters' Corps and Philippine Scouts, bringing the total to 11,000 officers and 200,000 men; this can be increased by Executive order, when war threatens, to 11,500 officers and 225,000 combatant troops, plus the necessary Staff Troops, Philippine Scouts, &c.

The increase will consist of thirtyfour regiments of infantry, ten regiments of cavalry, fifteen regiments of field artillery, five regiments of engineers, two battalions of mounted engineers, ninety-three companies of coast artillery, and eight aero squadrons. The company units, instead of skeletons as heretofore, will consist of two-thirds of the war strength, as follows: Infantry company, in peace, 100; in war, 150; cavalry troop, in peace, 70; in war, 105; battery, in peace, 126; in war, 190 men.

The measure provides a minimum strength in time of peace of 160,000 men; there was no minimum provision before. The maximum force of National Guard under the new bill is 17,000 officers and 440,000 enlisted men-800 for each Senator and Congressman. National Guardsmen are required to take the Federal as well as the State oath of allegiance, and will be given stronger inducements to improve; provision is made for compensating the officers and enlisted men of the Guard. A provision for Federal Volunteers was stricken out, but all necessary expenses of men at the National Training Camps are to be paid by the Federal Government. An important provision makes the enlistment term seven years, three to be served with the colors and four in the reserves. Provision is also made for the

THE British blockade is now receiv

ing renewed attention at the hands of the United States Government. The latest British note appears elsewhere in this issue. Our Government declined to consider the question in connection with the German submarine issue, but now that the latter appears to have been adjusted, the interference with our trade and mails is to be made the subject of a serious protest.

The British contend that the blockade is impartial: that since it is impossible to put a stop to importation of goods across the inland sea from Scandinavia, or across a land frontier, as from Holland, a blockade that fails to inclose such inaccessible parts of an enemy's territory is nevertheless binding and to be respected. This is a moot question which some future international conference must settle. Our greatly increased exports to neutral countries give color to the charge that Americans thus seek to evade the blockade, and the British authorities give assurance that every effort will be made to minimize delays and make the restraints of trade as little burdensome as possible. The news from Germany indicates that food shortage there is becoming an acute question, and this apparently confirms the English contention that the blockade is effective, and hence binding upon neutrals. Our Government, however, is restive under the British seizure of mails.

We are

assured that the British Government is striving to eliminate these delays and interferences, but that it cannot relinquish its right to prevent the use of the mails for the transmission of goods or information by her enemies.

A strong point is made by Great Britain that the Orders in Council do not control her prize courts, the intima

tion being strong that if our rights are in any way infringed we shall be sure of redress and justice in the courts. Certain phases of the question, however, are due to receive more serious attention, now that the acute stage of the submarine controversy has passed, and it is not unlikely that the whole issue may be submitted to international arbitration. The question will then arise, Shall the orders be suspended during the pendency of the arbitration? However settled, there is no fear that the issue will not be amicably arranged by diplomacy.

AN EPOCH-MAKING BUDGET

THE British budget for 1916-17 is

epoch-making, the greatest by all odds in the history of the empire, exceeding by millions the sum raised through taxation by any other Government. The total budget is $2,045,000,000. The national revenue of Great Britain was $1,335,000 in 1914-15, $1,683,835,000 in 1915-16, with an increase of over $350,000,000 for the current year. The interest debt charge is over $700,000,000 for 1916-17. The new budget, on the basis of peace expenditure, notwithstanding the colossal interest charge, would yield a surplus of $425,000,000.

The new taxation for 1916-17 will amount to about $380,000,000, and is derived from the following new assessments: Increased income taxes, $200,000,000, beginning at 56 cents in $5 on incomes not exceeding $2,500, and reaching $1.25 in $5, or 25 per cent., on incomes over $12,500; on unearned incomes, where total earned and unearned income does not exceed $1,500, 75 cents in $5 up to $1.25 in $5, or 25 per cent., on incomes exceeding $10,000. Taxes on railway tickets range from 2 cents for a fare of 25 cents to 2 cents in the shilling with a tax of $1 on Continental journeys; 1 cent on tickets to entertainments where the admission does not exceed 4 cents, to 25 cents on tickets costing $3.12, and 25 cents for every $2.50; 872 cents on every 10,000 friction matches; 8 cents a gallon for table waters, fermented, and 16 cents a gallon on other table

waters; 8 cents a gallon on cider; an extra 1 cent a pound on sugar; on cocoa 12 cents a pound; on coffee 12 cents a pound; on motor cars $21 for 61⁄2 horse power to $315 for 40 to 60 horse power and over; $10.50 on motor cycles. On excess profits the tax and super-tax reach 77 per cent. on the biggest firms, it is estimated that this source of revenue alone will be worth $430,000,000 to the Treasury in 1916-17.

MERCHANT MARINE LOSSES

T is estimated that the loss in ships

IT

and cargoes inflicted on the British marine since the beginning of the war exceeds in value $150,000,000. In one week in April, 1916, when the warfare was at its height, the British merchant marine lost eighteen ships, with a gross tonnage of 64,000. During the twenty months of the war, about 2,000,000 tons of British merchant shipping have been sunk. On March 31, 1916, there were 424 ships building, with a gross tonnage of 1,423,435. It is claimed by the British Admiralty that the present total tonnage is greater than at the beginning of the war, but this claim is disputed. records show that from March 1, when the new German submarine warfare was begun, to March 18, nineteen ships, with

The

where. It was supplemented on May 12 by a note verbale delivered by Count von Bernstoff to Secretary Lansing, which evidently confirms the purpose of the German Government to adhere rigidly to its agreement.

In this note the German Government suggests that the masters of merchant vessels be given to understand that in the event of their being stopped by "German public (sic) vessels the provisions of international law must be observed to the letter, [as to compliance with the order,] and that their special attention be called to the danger incurred by turning their ships on a submarine." This note was occasioned by the confusion which arose when a Dutch merchantman, upon being signaled to stop, turned and approached the submarine in order to facilitate examination and search, and thereby narrowly escaped being torpedoed. It is evident from this note that Germany wishes to take all precautions to avoid a repetition of mistakes such as she says occurred in the cases of the Sussex, the Tubantia, and other passenger ships recently sunk.

GERMANY YIELDS

THE firm attitude of President Wil

son in his note to Germany following the sinking of the Sussex, threatening an immediate rupture in diplomatic relations unless the German submarine warfare was conducted in accordance with international law, evidently accomplished its purpose, and Germany has now determined definitely to yield. The correspondence in full appears else

FULL COMPULSION IN ENGLAND HE British Prime Minister introduced in the House of Commons on May 3 a bill for applying general compulsion to men of military age in England, Wales, and Scotland. It requires enlistment to be imposed on every male, whether married or single, between the ages of 18 and 41. Every young man as he reaches the age of 18 is to be brought in after a month's grace; time-expired men are to be recalled if under 41 years of age. The bill passed its third reading in the House May 16, and is expected to become a law before June 1, 1916.

Premier Asquith announced when he presented the bill that, aside from Indian troops, Great Britain and her colonies had enlisted since the war began 5,000,000 men in the army and navy. It is estimated that there are 4,560,000 men of military age in Great Britain, of whom fully 4,000,000 have already enlisted; hence there remain available under the

Compulsory bill about 500,000 men, from which must be deducted the physically unfit.

For the first time in history Great Britain is engaged in military operations on land upon an extensive scale. Marlborough never had more than 12,000 British troops in his army at one time. England's largest contribution to the allied cause in the Napoleonic wars was 30,000 men with Wellington. There were but 300,000 British men under arms in the Boer war. There are now, according to Premier Asquith, 1,500,000 British troops at the various fronts, and 2,500,000 are being prepared for the front, with at least 400,000 more in sight as the result of compulsory enlistment.

MEXICAN BORDER TROUBLES

PATIENCE, firmness, and good diplo

macy seem to have turned up the silver edge of the war cloud in Mexico. At the present writing the situation is reported by General Funston to be more hopeful than at any time since the American troops crossed the border in pursuit of Villa's bandits.

After the attack by Carranza troops upon American soldiers at Parral on April 12 General Funston sent reinforcements to Pershing, and at the same time the latter's forces were recalled as far as Namiquipa to avoid a clash. On April 13 General Carranza sent a long official note to Washington asking for the complete withdrawal of American troops from Mexico. The demand was refused, but arrangements were made for a frank discussion of the whole subject at a conference in El Paso between General Alvaro Obregon, representing the Carranza Government, and Major Gen. Hugh L. Scott, representing the American Government.

This conference lasted through the first ten days of May, and, though no signed protocol was obtained, it is believed to have solved the hardest part of the problem. It was almost frustrated by two new bandit raids on the Texas border-in the Big Bend countrywhich occurred while it was in session, and which caused the militia of Texas,

Arizona, and New Mexico to be called out. But General Scott succeeded in convincing General Obregon of the absolute good faith of the United States, a better triumph than a battle; apparently this, together with the firm determination to keep our troops in Mexico, has worked a complete change in the attitude of the Mexican de facto Government.

The net result of the El Paso conference is a verbal agreement by which the two Governments divide the patrol of the lawless area, the Americans continuing to cover the region between the New Mexican border and Namiquipa, while the Carranzistas undertake to police the Big Bend hinterland and the whole region south of Parral. Ten thousand Mexican troops have already been assigned to this work. General Funston now has nearly 50,000 militia and regulars to guard the border and do our part of the task. The ultimate withdrawal of our forces from Mexican soil now depends upon the promptness with which General Carranza's army is able to demonstrate its ability to restore law and order.

DR.

as

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BUILDING A GREAT NATION

R. NICHOLAS MURRAY BUTLER, President of Columbia University, delivered a memorable address before The Associated Press in New York on April 25, in which he described the present war the Nemesis of nation-building conceived as an end in itself." Unless a nation have some purpose above and beyond self-interest, he said, war must continue to devastate the earth until "the last and strongest man, superb in his mighty loneliness, shall look out from a rock in the Caribbean upon a world that has been depopulated in its pursuit of a false ideal." Urging upon Americans the higher ideal of service to mankind, Dr. Butler continued:

We are the inheritors of a great tradition. What poets and philosophers have dreamed, that we are trying day by day to do, our stumblings, our blunders, our shortcomings are many; but if we keep our hearts clean and our heads clear he who a thousand years from now writes the history of liberty and justice and happiness among men will be able to tell to those far-off generations the story of the rise and influence of the American Nation.