Evening journal., 1915-08-24
An InconceivabIe Biunder
(From the New York Tribune.l

Any delay on the part of Presi-
dent Wilson due to his desire to pos
sess himself Of every necessary
statement and affidavit incident to the
formal Authorization of the case of
the United States against the Ger
man empire arising from the MUIR
der Of American citizens on the Ara
bic will be endured with patience and
without protest.
On the course that American pol
icy must follow on the essential step
that must be taken, there Is no divi-
sion of opinion. All question of fu-
ture policy was disposed of when
the first news of the massacre of
the Lusitania came to these shores.
II was the sober and solemn resolve
of all Americans that such protest
as could be made to Germany. such
diplomatic representations as we're
left TO be made should be made on
the completed crime; that there was
left to diplomacy only the duty to
make clear to the German statesmen
what would be the consequences of
another slaughter
Germany heard our protest, listen
ed to our warnings, and with polite
insolence declined to moderate her
policy or give even the smallest at
tention to our demands. We talked
10 her of the assassination OF Ameri-
cans and she replied by vague pro-
testations of friendship, coupled with
arrogant statements Of the conditions
under which she would refrain from
the killing Of Americans on the high
seas. We laid before her the case
Of America against Germany. Incl
dent TO German murder Of American
citizens, and she replied by narrating
her wrongs suffered at British hands.
So far diplomacy had done its
work. German statesmen we're in
possession of the facts Of American
purpose and policy. Germany was
informed of American demands, Of
American determination to protect
its rights. To the final warning
couohed in language as plain as II
was destitute of violence of tone or
temper, she returned no answer in
words; that is, no answer in words
spoken by her diplomats to the Amer
ican government What the real an
swer Of Germany was to be was sci
forth in all public statements Of the
German leaders and printed in the
German newspapers. While her states
men were silent, Germany's press
which is but the creature of the gov
ernment, openly affirmed that Ger
man policy would not 5e changed
that to murder there would be added
more murder. that there was no right
but German necessity.
To this informal notice there Is
now added the formal notice that the
sinking of the Arabic and the murder
OF other Americans furnish. II is an
answer, and Il Is a complete answer
II is all the answer that any nation
any statesman charged with the duty
Of maintaining national honor and
defending the lives Of American citi-
zens can need or ask II Is an answer
written in blood that carries force
beyond the power OF documents OF
state written only in ink.
II Is, then, inconceivable, II Is be-
yond all thinking, that the President
Of the United States should again
seek by any exchange of views, by
any direct or indirect communiea-
tion with the German government to
give Germany one more chance tc
demonstrate her contempt Of a nation
whose citizens she has murdered
whose rights she has invaded. whose
protests and warnings she has treat
ed with a contempt which is beyond