The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-12

on the situation in Berlin because he revealed in advance that President Wilson would reject any protracted barley and would not surrender the right of Americans to travel on un- armed and unressting merchant ships of any nationality 1nasmuch MT. Bryan interpreted the note which was presented by Ambassador Gerard today as likely to lead to war, much more strength of purpose 1t was admitted in official quarters, would be attached to the note on its receipt in Berin by the ministry while German puoie opinion would not find in the text IL self any provocation for a rupture Tn relations
 As the note was discussed and sos- siped about in official and diplomatlc quarters surprize was general that MT Bryan had declined to sign the docu- ment The belief that the note might have heen changed before 1t was final 1v dispatched aftr Mr Bryan rejected it's contents was dissipated by Secre- tary Lansing, who said he had been directed by the President to show the note to MT Bryan in it's final form pc cause of some unessential and minor changes.
 Terms Are Friendly
 ."The note gives Germany every op- rortunity of saving her race 1T she s' deSirPS says the Ddli9
 not only is phrased in most frlenolS terms. but by inviting the submission of further evidence concerning the I,1eitania and the resumption or othef negotiations through an Amerlca" Intermediary, opens a vista Tor heEe- tiations which mi ght keep the diplomats Of Berlin and Washington empioNeo until the war Is ended, only that tue President insists that the submarine .to lnrinP the neRO- tiations. And it is this point which gives Significance to the whole. obviously. without 1t the note would he nothing but an abdicatlon on the rart of the United states.
 we do not question the sincerity or MT Bryan's attachment to the cause or arbitration but 1t Is strange that ne fails to see what disservice he does 10 arbitration by accepting and preaching a travestv of 1t. Between nations. IS between individuals, the first condition of arbitration is that wrong doings shall cease in the interim. Otherwise arbitration simply means license to the wrongdoer to continue wrongdolngs as long as he can make arbitration last, which, where time Is important, will be all he wants To accept such doe Urine as MT. Bryan apparently does IS simply to put a premium on wrong doing and a very heavy discount on arbitration"
 The Post Puzzled
 The Morning Post says it is puzzled to find the reason for the lgnation of Secretary of State Bryan since the note contains nothing new"
 The paper continues; "It merely af- firms in friendly manner the posi- ton founded upon the generally ae- cepted principles of interna tional law. mi oh call if the irFpdllC1Dle min mum of the rights of neutrals. If MT. Bryan objects 10 the demand for as- surances we must conclude that he IS willing to surrender the right of government to protect the lives and
 property of its subjects. but if this Is his attitude the practical American cit
 zen will doubtless ask, What purpose does the government serve?
 The Daily Mail says:
 "The first impression of most readers of the note will be. we suspect that it is extremely polite and quite harm 1 less Whatever charges may be brought against American diplomacy in this crisis that of being unreasonable or hectoring or lacking in persuasiveness must certainly fall to the ground. "The vital passages of the note are those in which the United states earn estly and solemnly renews the repre- sentations of the note of May 15 and again asks dSSuTdntt that TAihti ',fti' lives and ships shall not be endan- gered on the high seas. Will Germany agree to abandon indiscriminate sub marine warfare? That Is the question | the United States puts to her once more We see few signs that Germany can. or will say yes, or fewer still l that the President would De sausheu with anything else"
 The Times says it is inclined to be- | lieye that Germany will not reject the l demands but will resume negotiations and endeaYor to preserve friendly rela- | tions with the United states, especial i lv as Wilhelmstrasse can discover in various passages of the note mateSai | for procra situation If 1t so desires ' The editorial continues
 Moderate in Tone 1 "Nothine could well be more mod . l crate in tone than the note but on is- | sues of substance the President re- l mains immovable. There is nothing. Tn l the note. however. to suggest that the 1 nolicy such as American newspapers | seem to expect from Germany would 1 be doomed to failure. The President l has done the utmost compatible wltf national dignity to make the path of l submission smooth and easy for Ger | many and her answer will be awaited with profound interest on both sides of the Atlantic.
 The Daily Graphic remarks that tho mote lacks the fire eating flavor | which many people had hoped for 1t.
 "Mr. Wilson replies to the Germans point by point and both in logic and fact has the best of the argument, | says the Graphic But the practical | question Is not which disputant wins the warfare of words but what the | American government intends to do to uphold the principles of humanity ard safeguard the lives of American cit
 izens. This Is unanswered in super l.ncial reading Of the note'
 The Standard says:
 "The President shows no disposition
 to interfere with Germsnys Legitimate
 rights as Il belligerent but insists thai
 such rights must be exercised withou' I infringing the dictates of humanity ant ! as this Is impossible by German sub.
 marine warfare the Germans can onl,