New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-17
Washington Look S
for Plea for Arbitra-
ton i'm Reply.
BERLIN EAGER
FOR SUPPLIES
Kaiser May Seek Indirect
Iy Modification of
British Embargo.
By ". /. MCPHERSON.


Washington. May Is With no mint
Vet from Berlin Of the character Of
Gcrmany's response 90 President VIII
sons note. opinion here is inc.inlJG a
little more 10 the belief tdat some
form o. arbitration will be suggested.
An offer 10 arbitrate would serve Ger
msny's purposes ny delaying a rupture
Of diplomatic relations. It Is felt here
tnat it might also enable Germany 10
accomplish by indirection something
which she failed 10 accomplish cou-
pie Of months ago by direct diplomatic
overtures. The intimation comes from
those in touch with the German En-
bassy that submarine raids would
cease during the negotiations.
Germany has always been anxious
TO drive a bargain, with the help of
the United States. by which she would
agree to abandon her unlegalized sub
marine campaign in return for such a
modification of the British Orders in
Council as would permit the Imports-
tion into Germany of food supplies
exclusively for the use of the civilian
population. The stoppage of sucn i'm
ports under the British embargo regu-
iatiOns has been construed by the
United States a. an infringement of
neutral rights. though not an infringe
ment comparable in character 20 the
barbarous destruction Of neutral lives
and property through submarine war
fare. The British Orders IN Council
stretched international law; the Ger
man Admiralty proclamation tore up
the international code BY the roots.
Nevertheless, Germany has hoped to
play off her major encroachment on
neutral rights against Great Britain 5
minor encroachment. Her offer to enter
into compromise with Great Britain
for the relief of neutral trade was pre-
sented through this government and
was unconditionally rejected in Lon
don. But if arbitration can be used 10
bring this compromise before neutral
tribunal the German government will
naturally feel that il has won at least
partial diplomatic victory.
American Consent Doubtful
It is very doubtful whether .he
( United States will consent to enlarge
the scope of any arbitration which may
be undertaken with Germany so as 10
include issues which affect other out
side powers But If the question can be
raised and discussed in the preliminary
negotiations Germany will have gained
something. President Wilson said in
his note of Thursday last:
american citizens act within their
indispu.able rights in taking their
ships and in travelling wherever their
legitimate business calls them upon the
high seas, and exercise those rights IN
what should be the well justified con-
hdencc that their lives will not be en-
1anCered by acts done in clear viola
tion Of universally acknowledged inter-
national obligations, and certainly in
the confidence tnat their own govern
ment will sustain them in IN exercise
of their rights"
II Germany accepts that principle,
either before or after arbitration, she
will have a moral right TO ash the
United States 70 apply il also 10 the
minor interference with neutral rights
which has been going on in pursuance
OF the British Orders in Council.
To Swing American Sentiment.
I'm this afternoons edition OF The
Washington Times" an unnamed Latin
diplomat is thus quoted:
"Gcrmanv can well afford TO concede
she is in the wrong. The result would
be to swing American sentiment to
her. TO line all America up behind the
next step. the enforcement of the
United States demands OF Great Brit
ain regarding the paper blockade.
Germany Is gaining nothing Dut Ill
will by her submarine programme. Her
desire obviously is TO compel an aban-
dormeut of England's unfair blockade
and starvation scheme But the sub
marines. sensational as their achieve
mcnts are. are not accomplishing this.
abandonment Of the submarine oper-
ations against merchant vessels would
nut Germany IN very different light
in America. in the light of a nation
that had done the right thing and de-
served support at Americas hands.
The only support OF value would
take the form Of insstence that Eng
land drop her starvation ta.tics,
against which America already has
protested. II the present note caused
Germany 10 quit submarine murder,
similar note might have as striking
result with regard TO England"
Arbitration is. therefore. pro-
oramue 20 which German diplomacy
NAV now turn with some confidence OF
ultimate advantage.
Secretary Daniels Learning.
Army and navy officers here are
,arerly watching diplomatic develop
Continued on page ,. column