The Case of the Robin Moor '
The report of the American Consul at Pernambuco that the American merchantman ' Robin Moor,' in waters far from the belligerent zone, was sunk by a German U-boat, the latter's commander being fully aware that the vessel was American, has raised new serious issues. This deliberate sinking, ordered by the German Government, is capable of being regarded as an act of war, and that the German Government will not offer apologies or amends is shown by the official assertion that any similar ships in like circumstances will be treated in the same way. The proposition that Germany does not want to force the United States into open war is now less tenable. It appears that Germany may be seeking by deliberate provocation to drive the United States into open war and to take action which the Nazis would stigmatise as aggressive. But how could Germany gain by such an issue? She might be glad to have a free hand to attack American ships everywhere. But that, it appears, she will not shrink from doing in any case whenever it suits her, and she would have much more to lose if the whole strength of the American Navy and Air Force were released for use against her. She may still hope to influence isolationist opinion, but if so this is not the right way to go about it. A more cogent consideration is the effect upon Japan, who would be under an obligation to assist Germany if America started war.
