Page:Dramatic Moments in American Diplomacy (1918).djvu/297

Rh including the bombardment of Belgrade, is very clever. It ought to hoodwink and satisfy everybody. It is an astonishing thing that it does not. No German can understand it. Take any demand, provided it is absolutely unreasonable, frame it in the most arrogant and lordly manner possible, and throw it into the territory. If it is not acquiesced in by sunset, march a "defensive" army into the place, or start a "defensive" bombardment. What could be more reasonable, or more convincing? Particularly since objection on the part of any one is conclusive proof that he belongs to an inferior race.

Venezuelans owed the Germans some money. The Germans had "claims" against them. Claims constitute the principal commodity as well as supply the principal topic of all talk—social, political, or merely casual—in this interesting country. But even a Venezuela claim has this in common with the ordinary variety. It has two sides. It is capable of producing a difference of opinion concerning its validity