hem
pointed out to the public the fact that this concession by the Kaiser
was not made in such a definite form, _until the United States had
declared war_. As the United States entered the war to aid the
democratic movement in Germany this concession by the Kaiser may be
considered our first victory.

As days go by it becomes more and more evident that the American
declaration of war is having an important influence upon internal
conditions in Germany just as the submarine notes had. The German
people really did not begin to think during this war until President
Wilson challenged them in the notes which followed the torpedoing of
the _Lusitania_. And now with the United States at war not only the
people but the Government have decided to do some thinking.

By April 12th when reports began to reach Germany of America's
determination to fight until there was a democracy in Germany the
democratic press began to give more serious consideration to Americans
alliance with the Allies. Dr. Ludwig Haas, one of the Socialist
members of the Reichstag, in an article in the Berlin _Tageblatt_ made
the following significant statements.

"One man may be a hypocrite, but never a whole nation. If the American
people accept this message [President Wilson's address before Congress]
without a protest, then a tremendous abyss separates the logic of
Germans from that of other nations.

"Woodrow Wilson is not so far wrong if he means the planning of war
might be prevented if the people asserted the right to know everything
about the foreign policies of their countries. But the President seems
blind to the fact that a handful of men have made it their secret and
uncontrolled business to direct the fate of the European democracies.
With the press at one's command one can easily drive a poor people to a
mania of enthusiasm, when they will carry on their shoulders the
criminals who have led to the brink of disaster."

[Illustration: "THE NEW OLD PRESIDENT. LONG LIVE AMERICA! LONG LIVE
PEACE! LONG LIVE THE AMMUNITION FACTORIES!"]

Dr. Haas was beginning to understand that the anti-American campaign in
Germany which the Navy started and the Foreign Office encouraged, had
had some effect.

Everything the United States does from now on will have a decisive
influence in the world war. The Allies realise it and Washington knows
it. Mr. Lloyd-George, the British Prime Minister, realised what a
decisive effect American ships wou