New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-18
We Shall Not Bargain.

RESPONDENTS 20 test American pubic oplh-
ion. In no other way is IT possible to.
interpret the suggestion Of arbitration, Of
arrangements" and Of other interesting
but wholly inapplicable methods Of meet
ing an awkward situation.
In the face Of these suggestions the
American course is plain. We have moth
inr 20 arbitrate. German naval officers
have murdered a hundred Americans,
men. women and children. This is no
question Of fact, no question Of law that
reouires submission 20 any tribunal. The
amount Of damages asscssable may be dis
puted. No one Will protest If this ques-
ton be left 10 The Hague, but this IS q
future contingency.
What is now to be decided is whether
Germany is going to continue to commit
murder. It Is Of no relevance what Great
Britain Is or is not doing to Germany
There can be no excuse for any attempt to
bargain with US in terms Of British policy
There can be no question of conceding GER
tain things TO US If we perform certain
acts pleasant and profitable to Germany.
What President Wilson demanded was
that in so far as Americans were con-
cerned Germany should act in accordance
with international law. What he asserted
was that unless the German Government
agreed to return to reason, to live within
the law, the United States would be com
PEELED TO protect its citizens, emitting no.
word or act necessary to such defence.
The question as it exists is between Ger
many and the United States. We shall no.
be led aside by any irrelevant complaint
Of Germany. Whatever sympathy we may
feel for German women and children,
threatened by a British policy Of starva-
ton. this Will not lead US to consent to the
murder Of our own women and children
by German submarines.
1t is a real pity that the German Gov
ernment has no one in America now, rep /
resenting it, who can translate American
public opinion to it in an accurate fashion.
Apparently Germany has never under
stood exactly how America felt, IS even
now IN the dark as TO the true character
Of the American mind Nothing else could
explain the ridiculous bollons d'essai now
being released in Wilhelmstrasse.
The German Government and the Ger
man people should understand clearly that
what America demands as a right, based
on every word and letter Of international
law, she will not dicker and bargain over
We shall not accept the lives CT our citi-
zens on condition that we approach Great
Britain on German behalf. Nor shall we
90 TO The Hague over past assassinations
while Germany continues to massacre our
fellow citizens upon the high seas.
1t is a mistake, and gross mistake, to
permit expressions Of good will in Berlin
at the moment, coupled with hints at com
promise and bargain, TO draw attention
away from the main issue. a nation can
as i'll afford to bargain on matters affect
ing the lives Of its citizens as can the state
discuss with domestic murderers the condi-
tons upon which they will give over their
trade of mansaughter.
Let us be clear in our own minds at all
stages in the present crisis In no other way
shall we make ourselves understood in
Berlin. There are no conditions 70 be put
upon compliance with our demand. There
are no reservations or limitations 10 the
terms which Germany must meet. II Is
perilous optimism 70 believe that Germany
will 90 more than she has TO; it is mis-
leading the German Government to accept
with outward composure suggestions
which seem merely fortuitous but really
represent official experiments.
II is a fact that the United States can
not, and would not if it could, bargain
over the lives Of its citizens. Amy counter
proposal Of the German Government which
fails 10 concede all that President Wilson
demands will be of itself unsatisfactory,
because there is no fraction Of what has
been demanded which is not vital to the
safety Of American citizens.
1t is well 20 remember that We are at
the beginning, not at the end, Of difficult
and dangerous international episode. i
is necessary 10 avoid at all costs decelv-
ing the German Government a. to our real