Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-11
British Folly. German Guilt

British Folly. German Guilt
IT HAT the British admiralty was grossly
negligent in not providing a convoy of
destroyers for the Lusitana is evident. Ger
many had announced her purpose to destroy
the giant liner, and the property interests at
stake were amply sufficient to have demanded
protection. The admiralty is freed of no
blame by the suggestion that the civilized
world had found it impossible to believe the
German plans also contemplated the wanton,
causcless and Improbable destruction of
many hundred innocent lives.
The admralty's answer will be that it is
impossible to provide conveys for all the
merchant shipping that every day enters and
departs from the ports of the British Isles.
Broadly, that statement is true for British
commerce has been interfered with only
slightly--in relative sense-by the activi-
ties of German submarines, but liners Of the
Lustania's type suggest exceptional treat
ment Had the commander of the submarine
that sank the Lusitania obeyed the ordinary
dictates of humanity and followed the rule of
the sea by giving the Cunarder's passengers
and crew few minutes to take to the boats
there would have been the danger and even
Likelihood, nevertheless, Of loss Of life. BY
inviting Americans and other neutrals to take
passage on the vessel, Britain assumed
special responsibility that should have in
spired special precautions. Statements by
officials of the line that the Lustania and
from submarines were published broadcast,
and produced in the minds Of prospective pas
sengers a sense Of security the dreadful after
math has shown to have been without
warrant.
The almost criminal folly of the admiralty
has nothing to do, obviously, with the degree
of German guilt. That guilt is intensified in
American minds by the accommodating evil
dence that the plot was made, in part, in this
country, or at any rate was understood and
approved in its every detail by high German
digntaries, who continue to enjoy our hos
pitality and the privileges and immunities
that diplomacy confcrs.
Guilt is intensified further by the state
ment of DIR. Dernburg, the Kaiscr's nonofficial
spokesman in the United States which was
published in full in The Times Dispatch yes
terday. He had only perfunctory regret for
the l15 American lives that were sacrifices
1T was most unfortunate.' said this genial
apostle of Kultur. He declared that every
American ship carrying goods to England
would be sunk--with the same notice, pre-
sumably. as that given the Lusitania. Every
American ship carrying contraband anywhere
Is liable, he asserted, to the same reatment-
and that of course, means any American
ship German submarine commander decides
to destroy.
We confess can see no advantage i'm
continuing diplomatic relations with a cOun-
try that takes this position. 1t is inconceiv-
able that the United States will acuuiesce i'm
the German contentious, and equally incon-
celvahlc that Germany will modify them be-
cause of our protests Whatever else we do
or decide not to do, we can at least preserve
dignity and sclf-respect by ceasing to make
representations that are certain to be nouted
President Wilson, say disp.t ches from
S".Nashlngton. will make formal demand on
Germany for absolute assurances of protec-
tion TOR American lives. The President is
right, of course in allowing Germany this
opportunity to retreat from a rule of war
that by comparison makes the practices of
naked savagcs mcrciful and respectable, but
he can entertain small hope that the assur-
ances he is 10 ask will be given
In the meantime let us get our nationals
out OF Germany. They have no place there
and their situation becomes increasngl dan
gerous The time will come when the Presi-
dent VIII hand Count Won Bcrnstorf his pass
ports and diplomatic relations between the
two countries will be suspended That re-
SUIT or the crime of the Lusitania is as GER
tam as anything the future holds in store