South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-23
THE ARABIC AFFAIR AND PREST
WILSON'S ULTDATUM.

United states Woulu seem tilF 'llig /
Interpretation which can possibly be (
placed on the torpedoing OF the Arabic. |
By ali the precedents Of diplomacy. it'll
would appear that TIE Arabic affair is /
an answer 10 Pres't wilson's so-called |
ultimatum and the next step, accord !
ing TO diplomatic precedent. would be |
war.
But diplomatic precedents are not
the only things ia be regarded in the
the present situation. In the United
States the president does not declare
war. The constitution provides that
the people be consulted. War can
be made only by an act of congress.
Section :. Article II. provides that
Congress shall have power TO de-
clare war grant letters of marque and
reprisal and make rules concerning
capture on land and water"
A president can go far towards get-l
ting the country into war. as was seen
in the Vera Cruz affair, but even after
the navy had landed party and taken
Vera Cruz the question of war or peace
with Mexico was still up to congress
And we are inclined TO doubt that
the sinking OF the Arabic, with or
without loss Of American lives, Will
result in war with Germany, or that
Pres't Wilson ever intended his final
note 10 Germany 20 be an ultimatum.
That he intended Germany to regard
il as such is freely admitted
That it was so regarded is not
doubted.
But back Of the seemingly final
words was the presidents knowledge
that only an Overwhelming public sen
timent in favor of war will cause conf
gress to enact the fatal resolutions.
There are three alternatives short
OF war:
That Germany will dis
avow the act and offer repara-
tion-an alternative not TO be
expected.
, The formal severance of
diplomatic relations with the Ger
man government course for a
long time seriously contemplated
by Prest Wilson
3 Refusal bvNcOngress to re-
gard the German course in the
Lusitania and Arabic affairs as :
sufficient propagation for war.
Nothing we apprehend. will be done
hastily The administration is strong
Iy committed to dehberation. There
will be deIay-time taken TO get all the
facts. and all the possible eXplana-
tions This viii serve also 10 enable
the president TO get a better idea of
public sentiment and in measure
10 he guided by it, If congress is to
be called in extra session it Will be in
response TO a public sentiment de-
handing action.
There are reasons why the secretary
Of state should not favor a discontin-
uance of diplomatic relations as a re-
buke to Germany. From a diplomatic
point OF view there would be no gain
and much might be lost by such a
course. The moral effect of such a
course would be negligible. 1t would
be like refusing TO hold further con-
versation with a ruffian who had
punched ones head While it would
be a great satisfaction to hand his
passports 20 Won Bernstorff and his
Boyd and Won Papen, the severance
Of diplomatic relations would place
the United States at great disadvant-
age in many ways.
Brand Whitlock would have TO leave
Belgium: We would cease to be the
channel Of communication between
Germany and England and the other
allies
Difficulties would be added TO the
handling of commerce with neutral
countries. and our commerce with
Germany would be al an end.
Finally it would be left to Germany
TO place her own Interpretation on this
or any other act and TO elect her own
time, place and manner for striking
war on the United states.
II congress were in session there
Is reason TO doubt whether that body
would vote to declare war Public
opinion has been CROWNS in favor of
casting aside the comparatively i'm
consequential theoretical rights which
exist under the precedents OF mterna-
tional law-the right Of an American
citizen. fer instance. 90 travel on a
beligerent ship i'm a war zone and the
right of commerce in non-contraband
10 continue
While admitting that these are al
rights there is a growing feeling tina;
they are not rights SO precious that
they ought TO be defended at the cost
OF plunsing this republic into world
war
The man in the street is saying:
Let Americans stay al home or
travel at their own risk We can't
afford 20 pay for their lives with
thousands OF innocent lives and
millions OF treasure The Euro
pean world has gone mad There
is no longer any such thing as
international law A technical
legal right is nothing compared
with the blessing OF peace. and
this country ought 10 cling TO this
blessing until the enemy makes
Us fight defensive fight. Then
we viii all fight and do il with