New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-14
The Orduna Note.

The Orduna note, as forecasted in yes
terday's dispatches from Washington
is a fit counterpart TO the Arabic note
Each qualities the German governments
pledge not to sink liners without warn
ing and without providing for the safety
of non-combatants in such way as
10 deprive it Of all practical value,
Judging from these two notes, Germany is
prepared 10 equivocate to the end, to make
promises to the ear and break them to
the hope, 70 concede, for diplomatic pur-
poses, the bare bones Of a principle, and
then defeat its application by allowing in
dividual submarine commanders TO con-
strue 1t as negligently as they please.
In the Arabic case the naval officer who
made an attack without warning entered
the fantastic plea Of self-defence. He said
that he believed the liner, which was
loaded down with non-combatants and had
every reason to give a submarine the
widest possible berth, was maneuvrlng
with I'm intent 10 ram him. This assump-
ton was so violent, so contrary TO all
probability, that the German Foreign Of
fee conceded that the commander might
have been in error 1t explained that no
obligation to grant indemnity would be
acknowledged, "even if the commander
should have been mistaken as TO the ag-
gressive intentions Of the Arabic"
In the Orduna case the justification Of
fered is even more flimsy. The submarine
commander disobeyed instructions, we are
told. because, on account Of weather con-
ditions, he was unable TO ascertain the
character or nationality Of the ship. He
took a chance blindly. Neither respect for
his instructions nor fear of international
consequences restrained him when big
quarry like the Orduna hove in sight.
II is an insult to the intelligence Of our
government for Germany TO maintain that
Count Won Bernstorffs promise Of Septem-
Der | is being lived up to when acts in
fragrant violation Of that promise are
being thus frivolously explained away.
The government in Berlin did not disci-
pine the commander who sank the Arabic.
1t did not even hint that he would be dis
ciplined for disobedicnce. 1t sustained
his far-fetched plea Of self-defence. 1t.
went further and encouraged other COM
inanders to initiate his example by saying
that it would not recognize an obligation
to grant indemnity in any case where a
naval officer exercised his own judgment
in violating orders, even If his judgment
was obviously wrong
In the Orduna note there is also no sug-
gestion Of dsavowal, even though the
submarine commander did not plead self
defence. He attacked without knowledge,
although he WAS bound by Germany's
promises TO ascertain the character and
nationality Of the liner, TO warn her and
20 provide for the safety Of non-comba-
tants before sinking her. He made q
mockery OF his governments pledge to the
United States. He left not q wrack be-
hind either Of its letter or Of its spirit.
Yet his judgment, too, is upheld, and the
United States is asked to condone his
running amucL rs a mere regrettable IN
cident, thus ing Washington an &C
complete WI. Berlin in ignoring the
yayning rar .a.wcca German promises
and Germa. performances
This comedy Of Offering something with
one hand and taking It back with the other
has been carried too far. American opin-
ion is sick Of It. The country wants re-
statement OF the Bernstorff pledge in Ian
guage which will cover all cases and will
leave 10 loopholes Of discretion to the
commanders Of German submarines. 1t
can be content with nothing less. To 60
on delaying debating, arbitrating, is sim
ply 10 yielc our whole righteous case.
II that is the, Administrations purpose
II lost the services Of William J. Bryan
az too soon.