Furthermore, it was pointed out in the American Press that Germany, so far as her social and military system was concerned, represented the antithesis of American ideals, and that a victory for Germany would inevitably lead to the imposition of her strict military system upon the world in general. Again, as a result of the falling off in imports from England, France, and Germany, the American customs receipts declined very considerably, and it was announced early in September that it would be necessary, in view of this falling off, to raise some £20,000,000 by internal taxation. The American Press promptly blamed the Kaiser for thus inconveniencing the financial arrangements of the United States, and the feeling against Germany in America became stronger than ever. By way of climax, a striking expression of opinion came from one of the best-known American educationalists, Professor W.G. Hales. Professor Hales communicated his views to the London correspondent of the _New York Times_, in which paper they appeared on September 7th. He advocated an immediate declaration of war by the United States against Germany for the latter's violation of The Hague Conventions, particularly in its use of floating mines and its destruction of Louvain. "What has always been wanted," continued Professor Hales, "is a sanction for the pacts of nations. There could be no more splendid sanction than the declaration of a great nation outside the immediate conflict that, where she is a party, they shall, so far as lies in her power, be kept sacred. "Germany has confessed enough. Louvain has been blotted out. For the German planting of mines in the open sea alone it is our duty to declare war. The facts have changed the whole aspects of things, since President Wilson's plea for patience was made. We should ourselves guarantee the commerce of neutrals and of the allied nations, leaving the English Fleet free to do its separate work. We should, by this mere act of declaration, shut off food from Germany. We should take our part in the great struggle instead of smugly sitting by while the world's work is done by other nations. Even Germany would then know that her plot against humanity had been both judged and doomed. The insolent cry, 'Deutschland über Alles', provides no exception for the United States. At the moment of Germany's success we must transform ourselves into a nation whose first business is war. Through South America she would strike at us next. "I have been all my life a fighter for peace, but I appeal to President Wilson, the Senate, and my private fellow-citizens, of whatever descent, to end the system of aggression and defence by arms, and to replace it with international law and international police." CHAPTER VI The Economic Position--Moratorium Extension--Great Britain's Oversea Trade--Germany's Commerce--Question of Food Supplies--Importance of the Balkans--"Petrograd."