New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-13

bic incident in Washington because
the administration instantly perceived
that il was within one step OF the
thing it most dreaded; it was within
sight of the war that mad been the
last thing in the world from its mind
when il first took its high stand for
international law.
Thus Count Won Bernstorff's inter
vention came in the nature OF re-
prieve; il had something of the char
acter of a miracle. One moment the
policy Of moral force seemed evils
cerated the next it appeared TO be
restored to complete vitality. There
was more rejoicing over the Bern
storff promise than over anything that
had happened since Mr.. Wilson came
to the capital.
But the rejoicing was short-lived.
Almost Immediately the Hesperian In
cident aroused doubts. The Arabic
note came hard after il to remind the
President that Germany had contem-
plated no change of policy, as he and
the country had believed, when they
had hailed the Bernstorff pledge. Ger
many had by no means meant to give
up a practice; she had only consented
to waive the label on the practice.
With bitter clarity it was realized
that what Count Won Bernstorff had
offered was a way out, a technical vic
tory, an abstract vindicaton of the doc
trine of moral force. Germany was
prepared 10 recognize in theory the
principle Of the right Of visit and
search. But in practice she was deter
mined to continue her former course
in each specific instance producing an
exclamation Of why she had been un-
able to apply the principle that she had
recognized. II the Arabic note meant
anything, it meant this.
Mockery of Bernstorff Pledge.
But this was a long way from the
sweeping moral victory that Mr.. VIII
son had felt won. that the country had
believed won through the Bernstorh
note. This amounted TO nothing more
than formal affirmation of willing
ness to live under the law in general,
wholly negatived by the purpose to vio-
late the law habitually and in every
case assign special reason for the
violation. In short, il was a mockery.
Even il it had desired to accept
Count Won Bernstorff's avenue of es-
cape and follow it, the administration
could not do so, because the American
people had accepted Mr.. Wilson's stand
for international law as fight for the
substance, not the shadow, and the
Bernstorff assurance was, as inter
preted by the Arabic note, but the
faintest of shadows. So the admin
istration was compelled TO concede, in
formally, that the Bernstorf promise
was but scrap OF paper" and that
admission provoked the German Am
bassador's interesting explosion in
"The Evening Sun"
But because the administration
knows that what Count Won Bernstorf
has said is true, because il recognizes
that the choice is between peace and
war. and because, above all, il believes
a majority of the country desires peace,
it is examining the Arabic note anew,
in the hope of finding a fresh oppor-
tunity for discussion, new chance to
assert the doctrine OF moral force and
postponed action.
There is, then, a possibility now
that we shall reopen the discussion
with Berlin, and if we do there will be
n,omcntary lessening Of tension. But
there will be a redoubled tension when
the next incident occurs, and there is
no prospect that there will not be an
other incident.
In word. this country is drifting
steadily and inescapably toward war
with Germany because Mr.. Wilson has
adopted and clings TO a policy which
can only he maintained by war. The
entire control Of the situation is in
German hands. There is no resource
left TO this country in diplomacy. be-
cause Mr.. Wilson will not speak with
determination and will not surrender
the ground he has taken on behalf of
international law.
One Side Must Surrender.
Our difficulties with Germany can
not be accommodated except By a com
plete and humiliating surrender on the
German side, or a complete abdication
by Mr.. Wilson OF the right TO cham
pion international law. There is no
promise Of a termination Of the crisis,
because, left to himself. Mr.. Wilson
will never take vigorous md definite
action. So far as he is concerned, he
will only watt dispatch more notes. if