An Amsterdam correspondent of the Times states that the German
Admiralty, early in 1916, advocated an unrestricted submarine war, affirming that it would compel Great Britain to conclude peace within six months. Herr Hellferich, in a secret memorandum of February 26th, 1916, which the correspondent has seen, pointed out that the Admiralty's assumption was not proved, and he invited the Chancellor to consider the political effects of submarine outrages, which would probably force America to go to war. " The danger remains," he concluded, " that the reaction of a new submarine war on Germany will be more fatal to us than the strongest conceivable injury of England. According to my personal view, the danger is so grave that it should only be accepted if the economic, financial, and military situation leaves us no other choice." Herr, Helfferich's protest, which doubtless postponed the new submarine was for a year, has been amply justified by the event.
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