New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-04
A Platform.
From the editorial columns OF 1.-The
World" we take the following:

The Tribune agrees with 1.-THE World that
the Republican leaders in Congress cannot
attack President Wilson unless they are Will
ing to take the responsibility for war.
Such statement misrepresents the view
Of The Tribune as expressed In its own
columns. Where The Tribune does agree
with 1.-THE World" is in the statement
that Republican leaders will not be war
ranted in criticising Mr.. Wilson's lack OF
courage and policy If they display SINH
lar lack of courage and policy.
What the policy Of the Republican MI
nority should be The Tribune set forth
frankly. It believes that 1t should intro
duce and press for adoption resolution
calling upon the President to suspend dip
Iomatic relations with Germany until the
Lusitania crime has been disavowed. This
course can lead TO war in only one way; II
Germany chooses to make It a cdstls beui
then conflict will result But the respon-
sibilitv for such conflict will be German,
not American.
The Tribune does believe firmly that no
fear of war, no apprehension Of possible
German action, should prevent the Con-
gress of the United States from taking
the single course compatible with national
honor and self-respect. But 1t recognizes
that a resolution calling upon the Presi-
dent to suspend diplomatic relations Is
purely advisory and can be ignored by
Mr.. Wilson II he chooses. The Tribune
is perfectly willing to confront the event
uality of war II the German Government
in addition to numbering American cid-
zens takes a cessation Of diplomatic rela-
tons, pending disavowal Of crime, as
pretext for a declaration Of war.
What "The World" Is trying to do Is
perfectly clear. 1t is attempting to con-
fuse the issue by asserting that the choice
for Congress is between war and diplo-
macy and that those who criticise the
President are eager to push Che country
into war with Germany, which could be
averted If diplomatic usages were fol-
lowed. In this our neighbor Is merely
following the example Of Count Won Bern
storff. who, when popular indignation over
the Arabic incident reached the point
where there was possibility Of break in
relations, caused TO be published an inter-
view asserting on his authority that such
break would mean war within few
days.
The Tribune has never criticised Mr..
Wilson for his failure to protest at the
invasion Of Belgium by the Germans. 1t
does not share the views Of those Ameri-
cans who feel this was duty, because it
does not believe that sound American
policy justifes any interference by this
country in a European war on European
issues. Again, unless the United States
were willing to fight for Belgium, pro-
test would be a mere pretence, piece of
self-righteousness and transparent sham.
The United States was not willing to fight
over the Belgian issue and Mr.. Wilson
cannot be criticised because he adhered to
the wish and tradition of his country.
The Tribune has never believed that the
limited States should intervene on behalf
of the Allies. 1t believes that the Ameri-
can policy. dating from the days Of the
French Revolution, the policy Of Austen
ton from European conflict, is sound. 1t
has said and it believes that the principles
for which the Allies are contending are
American principles; it has said and be-
lieves that the success Of Germany would
be menace TO American ideals, because
/. sees in the German idea the negation OF
all that democracy and liberty mean to
Americans. But il has never advocated
American intervention and 1t does not
do so now.
The issue between the United States and
Germany has no complicating European
circumstance. In sinking the Lusitania
the German Government deliberately au-
thorized the murder Of more than hun
bred men, women and children, American
by nationality and covered by American
sovereignty. This assassination was ac-
complished in direct defiance Of the ex-
plicit warning Of the President Of the
United States In his Strict Accountability
message. After several earlier notes Mr..
Wilson on July ~ addressed TO the Ger
man Government message calling for a
1isayowal Of the Lusitania crime and de-
handing naturalization for loss. That
note has never been formally answered,
and In all informal conversations the Ger
man Government, through it's Ambassa-
dor, has insisted that no disavowal was
possible because the deed had been au-
.horized and IL was impossible for the
German Government 10 confess an error
Such being the case The Tribune has
criticised Mr.. Wilson for taking no def
mite step TO sever diplomatic relations with
q nation which has on It's own confession
ordered the murder Of American citizens
and declines 20 make the single reparatior
-.sfti. |haf ~ disavovaI So far The