The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-07-22
THE GERMAN NOTE.

\
suppose that a nation which blew
international law to atoms when 1t
assassinated the Lusitania would
fail on occasion to make some plea
in self-defense, even though a weak
one. Presenting no new argument
or excuse except that it was sur
prised, perhaps appalled,. as the sud
denness with which that great snip
went to the bottom, the German note
now in hand is little more than a
repetition Of the plea, already ia
miliar to us, that because Great
Britain has violated international
law in it's assaults upon property at
sea Germany is justified in the per-
petration of every crime known to
civilization.
Violence which at the very out
set runs the whole gamut of outlaw
nv and has no word of regret for
Wholesale murder naturally enough
is not abashed when it is called to
account for lesser injuries to a
friend. Herr Won Jagow does not
fail to droll upon the German grieV-
ance against us for selling munitions
of war to the allies, which he knows
is perfectly lawful; he does not ne
glect to speak of the thousands Of
German mothers and children robbed
of breadwinncrs,' those breadWln-
ners being German soldiers conduct
ing "a war of defense" by invading
foreign states, and he renews the
complaint that British merchantmen
are armed and that they attempt to
ram German submarines, but he
does refuse to discuss law and right
and he does ignore the treaties be-
tween the United States and Prus-
STA which clearly covers every point
now in dispute.
To the extent that the note gives
assurance that American ships will
not be hindered in the prosecution
of legitimate shipping and the lives
of American citizens in neutral YES
sells shall not be placed in jeopardy
there is distinct advance over any
thing that has emanated heretofore
from the German foreign office.
The further statement, however,
that 1.-THE Imperial Government is
unable to admit that American citi-
zens can protect an enemy ship
through the mere fact of their pres
ence on board is offensive, and by
Implication is a falsehood.
We have not held that the pres
ence of Americans on enemy ships
protected the ships What we have
maintained and still must maintain
is that Americans in such cases, as
in all others where they may be en-
gagged upon lawful errands, are pro-
tected by international law. We are
not protecting British ships. We
are protecting American rights and
the law of nations.
herr Won Jagow's suggestion OF a
method by which the United States
may carry on limited amount OF
commerce in the so-called German
war zone, subject to the forebear-
ance of the war lords who direct the
German submarines, while interest
ing and, in a way, enlightening, is OF
course inadmissible. We do not
hold our sea rights subject to any
body's supervision. We are not
likely to surrender any of those
rights to a nation that does not have
a single dreadnought or cruiser on
the ocean and whose boosted sea
power is now exerted only by the
methods of the footpad and the
blackhander.
Whatever may be thought or said
of this note, it is always to be re-
membered that actions speak louder
than words. For the present we
should say that Germany is to De
Judged more by its deeds than by its
diplomacy. 1t has not been sinking
any American ships of late. 1t has
not been sinking without warning
any enemy ships having Americans
on board. It has not assailed any
more transatlantic liners. While
these conditions obtain, notes ike
that now under discussion may irri-
tate or exasperate, but they need not
necessarily lead to a rupture: 10
DISCONTINUE national wrong doing is
one thing. To apologize for it, even
to a friend, in the presence OF a
neople infuriated by suffering and
inflamed by falsehood, is another
We shall have to address the Ger
mans again and in language even
more forcible than that already u.s.
ed.-New York World.