24 FEBRUARY 1917, Page 3

The second Resolution, that in favour of Preference, is also

in essence based on the " State of Siege " argument. The war has taught us that we must not again be at the mercy of neutrals—i.e., subject to the risk of such Powers being intimidated by our enemies. Happily for us, the United States was too strong to be intimidated by German coercion. Though the Germans insisted tlat the Americans were guilty of a breach of neutrality in sup- plying us with munitions, President Wilson and his Government from the first maintained that America could and would sell shells to either of the belligerents, and that it was no concern of theirs that this operated in our favour and against Germany.