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Show Mil SI TO HAVE GIVE1J8S1IGES Writer in Russian Newspaper Newspa-per Discusses Possibility of U. S. Entering War. PETROGRAD, Feb. 17, 1 p. m., via London, 9 p. m. The fact that the United States is not at war with Germany Ger-many after the lapse of a fortnight since the breaking of diplomatic relations rela-tions is the subject of lengthy comment com-ment in the Bourse Gazette. Citing the sinking of the American schooner Lyman Ly-man M. Law and the British steamer California, the paper says: "The only Dew factor that might bring war would be an armed collision on the sea, but since collision is precluded pre-cluded by the failure of the American government to authorize the arming of merchant ships, it is impossible to imagine that further provocation for war can arise. It is too earlv to reproach re-proach the United States for this, however, how-ever, because as yet there are 110 official of-ficial details of 'the sinking of the Law. It is further realized that before be-fore passing to a state of actual hos tilities it iB necessary for America to 1 secure her diplomatic rear, without which there would be a great risk iu entering the war. She must first guarantee guar-antee her interests in the Pacific." The writer mentions alleged diplomatic diplo-matic exchanges between the . United States and Japan, and continues: "America could not be on guard in the far east if engaged in a war with Germany, and therefore requires proofs of" Japan 's good intentions. Such proofs i are understood to have been given bv Tokio. If it is true that friendship has been assured between these two nations, na-tions, the fact will have an enormous influence on world policy and the greatest great-est profit from such development would accrue to the near east allies of Japan, namely Great Britain and Russia. It-would It-would mean that Germany had lost all hope of sea domination and was expelled ex-pelled forever from the far east. Japan, in giving such guarantees, acts in full solidarity with the allies. The friendship friend-ship between America and Japan cannot can-not relegate to the second place in im- ' portance the relations between Russia and Japan. On the contrary, it would give those relations more stability." |