New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-25
The German Request.

The German request for suspension OF
Judgment pending the official report OF the
commander of the submarine which sank
the Arabic will naturally be granted and
will with less warrant be made the basis
for hope that the peril seen clearly by al
now may be averted.
There is only one possibility of final
escape from perilous break between the
United States and the German Empire.
This is not to be found in any facts con-
corning the Arabic incident. If the Ger
mans are able, as seems utterly lncon-
ceivable. to build up some defence for this
action, the real danger will remain, not IN
the incident, but in that settled policy
which is the cause of the German-Ameri-
can difficulties.
II the German Government desired to
abolish all chance of break with the
United States, it could do it by announc-
ing that henceforth its submarine comman-
ders would sink no passenger ships save IN
conformity with the practices of interna-
tional law. 1t has only to abandon the
methods revealed in the Lusitania and
Arabic incidents to put aside all opportu-
nity for war between the United States and
itself. But unless it consents to do this
the situation will only undergo a tempo
rary amelioration, if Germany's defence in
the Arabic case is even technically suffi-
rient to satisfy the American Government
Permanent improvement there can be no
prospect of while German policy remains
fixed.
For if the Arabic was not an incident"
accepting the extreme view Of few Ger
man newspapers, then there is certain to
be a real incident" without great delay
A man resolved upon murder may escape
indictment in a specific case, but If he
sticks to his resolution. he will kill sooner
or later and the crime will bring inevitable
consequences.
Every German comment expressed in
this country since the Arabic sank follows
the same line so clearly indicated by Count
Reventlow. All agree in asserting what
IS wholly evident, that the facts are still
unknown to Germans, since the version OF
their naval officer remains to be supplied.
But all equally agree that if the Arabic
was sunk as America believes it was
sunk, it was an altogether righteous act
and only detail in German naval policy.
Hope of peace and friendly relations
cannot be based on such premises. eve
don't know whether we murdered Ameri-
cans, but if we did it was the right thing
to do and the thing we intend to continue
doing" This is the content of German
press comment. Such being the case, what
permanent difference will it make whether
the Arabic was case in point or not? If
it was not, tomorrow or next day is sure
TO bring one.
Conceivably-it is just and proper to
consider the possibility. Germany has at
last recognized what will be the conse-
quences Of a policy of murder. Perhaps
at the last moment she has determined, IN
the face of consequences no longer mistak-
able, to change her policy-abandon her
outlawry-consent to live within the law.
If she has-so much the better. Here alone
is it possible to find any hope for the
future.
President Wilson will wait for the Ger
man statement. He is bound to do that.
He will give it the consideration it merits
when it comes. But a mere technical de-
fence, unaccompanied by guarantees for
the future, he cannot accept as Satisfac-
tory-he cannot permit to stay his decision
to break off relations with Germany.
1t is unnecessary and unwise to foreclose
on the German course. 1t is highly i'm
proper to assume a wholly intransigeant
attitude while the German statement is yet
unmade. Until it is made and found I'M
satisfactory we must wait patiently and
calmly. But we should neither deceive
ourselves nor let the Germans be deceived
on the main point. Friendly relations be-
tween the United States and Germany are
hereafter impossible unless Germany re-
nounces a policy of assassination and a
campaign of murder which finds American
citizens for its victims.