The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-14


to this incident leads to the conclu-
sion that =. there were not other
vastly greater issues at stake between
the two Governments the United
States would have something further
to say regarding the Ambassadors
action.
Upon the main issue at stake be-
tween Germany and the United States.
the President reiterates the already
Informally stated proposition that no
warning tina. an unlawful and In
human act will be committed can pos
sibly be accepted as an excuse or pal
liatiou for that act or as an abatement
Of the responsibility for Its commits
sion"
Old Treaty Invoked.
The treaty Of 1928 between the
United Sta.ea and Prussia is also In
voked in support u the American ex-
pec,ation that Germany will accord
the American demands "Just. prompt
and enlightened action" This treaty.
recently invoked by Germany as in
force. requires that Germany neither
confiscate nor destroy any contraband
OF war being carried to her enemies in
an American vessel and was clearly
violated in the Frye. Gulhight and
Gushing cases.
The recent note Of the German Gov
eminent written subsequent to the
f.usitanla attack was interpreted here
TO mean that henceforth Germany
would admit responsibility for attacks
on neutral vessels not carry ing con-
traband and in the case OF the United
States observe that provision OF the
treaty OF 1928 that requires that she
do not attack even contraband carry
ing American ships. OF this promise
to pay for mistakes the President
says:
Expressions Of regret and offers OF
reparation in case OF the destruction
of neutral ships sunk by mistake.
while they may satisfy international
obligations IL no loss of life results
cannot justify or excuse practice
the natural and necessary effect OF
which is to subject neutral nations
and neutral persons to new and i'm
measurable risks"
Just how hard II will be for the
German Government and the German
people to respond In a wholly satisfac-
tory way to the terms Of the Presi-
dents note is appreciated in many
quarters here. 4 failure to- satisfy
the United States Is now all the more
serious because this Government as
the result of to-day's note stands
twice committed to act in defence of
the principles it has pledged itself to
support II 1t fails by words to achieve
the end desired.
Actual War Likely.
That n severance Of diplomatic re-
lations is likely to result in state
Of actual hostilities is realized here
Earnest thought has been given &c
such eventualities by those respon-
Slble for the course expressed in TO-
days note.
The universal feeling here Is tha'
this decision by the President is lr-
revocable: that he was never moro
determined to see through the cours,
he has adopted. and that with tn,
United States once committed to tn,
cause of bringing Germany to an OBJ
servance of the laws OF civilization
he will feel in honor bound to throw
all the forces at his command into tn
balance should words fail
There is strong conviction her
that ways can be found by which tn
United States could make its materfa
influence felt in case its moral in
fluence proves to be insufficient Il
prevail upon Germany.
Not even the conciliatory emanl
tons from German quarters here ar
regarded as measuring up to the sit
.Uation created by the Presidents not,
There Is every reason to believe thu
Il will prove a shock to Germany an
Germans everywhere. Certainly tn
leaders of German thought in thi
country expected nothing which coul
not be met with a compromis,
whereas there is grave reason t
doubt whether the Presidents de
.nands are in any sense amenable 4.
compromise or bargaining.
Since 1t Is the general opinion tha
the German attitude in this countr
is more conciliatory than the Germa
attitude in Germany. it is apparer
why there is real fear that the tw
Governments cannot reach has
mutually satisfactory on this issue.
The most that Is held out here q
behalf Of Germany Is a promise
PREPARATION in the case OF the sme
lean victims OF German attacks. r,
Germany TO let this include the Ius
,tania victims would be in Itself a r
.versal OF her official statement OF la
Monday, squarely charging Gre
Britain with responsibility for the 10
of American lives.
Admits Acts Illegal.
1t IL stated that Germany will n
admit that she has no right to purs
her attacks against British merchan
men to the enlargement Of the liv
Of neutral persons. She admits
illegality, but insists that In view
'England's Illegal acts she has {
right to retaliate this way.
Only on one condition is Germa,
apparently willing to abandon h
submarine programme. and that Is
condition which has In advance be
pronounced unacceptable to this Go
eminent. That condition is that I
United States repeat It's efforts to
.duce Great Britain to abandon h
policy of keeping food out OF Germa
in return for an abandonment, by G,
many Of her submarine program
The American answer 10 this ri
posal. which has already reached q
ministrative quarters Informally,
that the United States Governm,