Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-26
GRAVE PROBLEMS FORCED ON MR. WILSON BY ARABIC.

The sinking of the Arabic which had twenty-five Am
United States the point of severng official relations
with Germany not actual war that the problem deserv
ing Of the most careful handling by all concerned
Those who have followed the discussion of relations
with Germany in these columns know President Wilson, in
estimation made diplomatic mistake in not taking Ger
many at it's word when said it desired to Amer
ife leaving that country to bear the burden of deter
mining American lives instead Of attempting
lay down rules for that purpose and insisting that Germany
should live up them in it's conduct of the against the
allies.
AS long last February President Wilson warned
the German government that effort would be spared to
hold that country responsible for encroachment Amer-
rights of life and property and nothing said the
cesson of notes since sent to Berlin following successive
repettions oenses reality added to the force
that utteance On the contrary repetition of threats
carried has, every parent knows and child
to know weakening effect Every note sent to
Berlin weakened those that preceded it, for in effect
notice that did not intend to carry out any threat
CARDS the exactng of penalty That much must be plain
to every student of the situation.
Moreover after the sinking of the usitania follow
ing repeated warnings from this nation President Wilson had
either promptly broken diplomatic relations called
ference Of the neutral powers to deal with the situation in
stead of trying to act for the entire neutral world would
not be in present predicament.
AS it the Presidents note of July 81 laid down the
principle that 'the character and of merchantmen
must first be ascerained before she lawfully be seized
destroyed and that the lives of noncombatants in
be put in jeopardy unless the vessel ressts
tion"
That demand threw mantle of protection over every
British ship engaged in transporting goods and commodities
Of whatever character matter the craft in question
engaged in transporting and ammunition to the British
army
Let us for a moment consider that point The Arabic
known to have been of the successful of transports
of supplies and contraband of engaged in the
ice between American and British ports She had just
red immense cargo of implements abroad and
returning for another Her commander had boosted
that no submarine could catch his craft and his had
rne we'll aircraft How could the head of a neutral
power reasonably expect to issue demand for projection for
his own citizens that would cover craft like that?
We have done that however, and must face the
consequences The concluding paragraph of the note Of July
must be regarded by the of the United States
No matter whether American lives destroyed by
the sinking of the Arabic ornot the commander Of German
erican rights consistently President other
wise than treat the act of the Germans in sinking British
boat having Americans board matter how many or
how few, deliberately unfrendy."
The Americans on board the Arabic were evidently
sons note to Germany and any their
sacrificed by so much the more must President Wilson act
His only alternative to crawl and the successful diplomat
does not readily allow himself to be put in that position
Under these circumstances President Wilson does we'll
to his intention to await official details before de-
Gliding the he will adopt If he live up
the letter of his warning to Germany he would be forced to
trel in the hands of Germany The the President
could do would be to declare The least he could do
hand Ambassador Won Bernstor his passports thus
ing diplomatic relations with Germany
But President Wilson would not be justified pungng
the American nation into war merely to his mis-
takes in the field of diplomacy If the President were to
would probably be playing directly into the hands of the
Kaiser Ordinarily under present circumstances the
ing of diplomatic relations would be interpreted pre-
ninary to In the present situation the Kaiser would
have three open He could ignore act in send
ing his diplomatic representative home he could treat it
the beginning of actual he could do neither for the
present but issue menacng statement The effect of the
last named step would be toorce the American people to
adopt at for their defense and order the fac
tories making munitions of for the allies to turn
their product to the United States government for self
defence and thus weaken the allies not the Kaises
ultimate victory. Significantly enough in the
of France in 1870 and has been attempted recent
GERMANY would
sponsibty for actual declaration of it's equivalent
1t will be noted that far humane considerations
concerned Germany has defense whatever But it.
self not humane The rights Of belgeen have become
principally that of might makes right repeated
ly shown in these columns. What is contra : md to-day is
not contraband tomorrow and vice and with bel
igerent rights
President Wilson faces situation familiar pre-
vious to most He has conducted negotiations to
point where he must either back down the risk of prob
able with the idea that Germany will back down There
to suppose the of diplomatic relations
with Germany would prevent the Germans from the further
sinking of British boats carrying supplies well
American but be the least do
particularly if American lives have been lost.
Tha DrOhe facinU iS NOT liphtO