South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-14
PRIEST WILSON'S NOTE TO TIL
GERMAN WARLORDS.

tania affair and the rights of neu-
trails on the seas, is both emphatic |
and picturesque-a bit OF diplomatic |
correspondence such as seldom marks /
national indignation in times so try /
ing. II outlines the policy OF the
United States in distinct terms firm
but cousiderate. allowing the German
government opportunity 10 square it.
self if it sees fiji. OF take the conse-
quences II IT does not, which is the
attitude Of the American people, quite
without exception. The only excep
tons of note SO far as we know. is
certain OF Germany's attractive SYM
pathizers here. plus Henry Clews New
York banker. who has bonds TO pro-
tect. and Henry Lane Wilson. former
minister to Mexico. with whom any
thing that Pres't Wilson does can
never be counted as satisfactory any
way
The president recalled ex-Minister
Wilson from his post in Mexico for
being more Mexican than American in
his service, and more Wall street than
otherwise in his concept of things.
IN consequence it is not TO be expect
ed that ne will take kindly to any OF
Pres't Wilson's administrative Oper-
atoms. Addressing the Knife and
Fork club here recently. he hgurative-
Is ate the president alive for his too
mild" Mexican policy. but now his
German note is too strong" Agree
ing as he does with Banker Clews, of
D, 10 #
hcient explanation since his wise
judgment" always seems 20 be with
the money powers.
However. neither Pres't Wilson, nor
the American people. although strong
ly peace preferring, are as yet ready
10 adopt 80 peace at any price" policy.
We have dropped quite enough mild
protests in the mail box for Germany,
only TO see them trampled under the
German hoOfs Casting ones bread
upon the waters is one thing Casting
ones pearls before swine is quite an
other thing Perhaps Pres't Wilson's
demands might have been expressed
in other words, but il is his language
that the American people wanted, and
il is his demands rather than the de-
mands OF Minister Henry Lane VIII
son or Banker Henry Clews, that the
American people are going TO back up.
II is suggested that there is another
way than war. and perhaps a more
effective way OF bringing Germany to
her senses-just as though the pres
ident had declared war, and left no
other alternative, should the land OF
Wilhelm persist in its lawless and hos
tile attitude toward our country and
people. The note, as the reader will
observe who peruses il, does not touch
upon the consequence TO Germany in
case she turns down our demands at
all. The prospect. however. is. that
there viii be no war unless Germany
declares IT, The moral isolation" OF
the kaisers empire, leaving her with
out "a friend in the civilized world, save
Austria Hungary and Turkey, is more
than likely TO be the American plan.
The cancellation of diplomatic rela-
tons with Germany would mean the
recall of Ambassador Gerard at Ber-
I'm and handing Count Won BernsJorn
neatly engraved set of passports
Volve our ceasing to act as Germany
diplomatic agent iu the six belligerent
capitals where our embassies have
been looking after her interests We
might invite all neutral nations OF
the world 20 join us IN "a council OF
civilization TO agree upon the steps
10 be taken TO protect the interests
of all neutral powers and their cIuzeu.
from such wanton acts of destruction
OF life and property.
The mere seyering Of diplomatic
relations would be moral castigatior
which Germany could neither ignore
nor sneer at. How much more over.
whelming would he the effect if every
other eutral nation should join US il
the step! Most of them seem ripe foI
some such measure. The Lusitani,
crime was not committed solel,
against British and American citizens
The victims include Norwegians
Swedes. Danes. Hollanders, Italians
Greeks. and even Latin-Americaus Al
the nations thus affected have re
sponded with little less intensity thar
our own Newspapers everywhere
formerly guarded and cautious in thei
neutrality. show the awakening 10 tn
need OF new. concerted effort &
curb the anarchy into which the wa
Is degenerating.
a dispatch from Rome says: "Th
prevailing sentiment here is tina
America viii punish Germany for tn
useless sacrifice of innocent lives. an
that all the neutral nations OF tn
world Will be prepared 10 aid Amerc
tf necessary"
The Copenhagen Hovedstad throw
off all restraint. declaring. "If the Vi
olation OF Belgian neutrality. If Lou
vain. Senls and Rheims have no
taught as that neutrality has nothin
10 do with the hearts OF the citizens q
a state, the Lusitania Will teach us.