The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-15
Newspapers Commend Dignity
and Firmness of Note.
Recalls Best Tradition of Amer
lean Policy.
KAISER LEFT IN NO DOUBT
Daily News Sees Yelled Threat
in Friendly Words.
Conscience of Humanity Makes
Itself Audible, Says Times. .

London, May 15.-A11 the newspa-
pers commenting on the American
note to Germany applaud the dignity
and firmness with which the docu-
ment is couched. The Daily News
suggests that though it would be diff
ficult after the official defense of the
sinking of the LuSitania and the eX-
pressions of satisfaction of the Ger
man newspapers over the incident, the
German government may take PreSl-
den. Wilson's irony at it's face value
and declare that the submarine COM
mander acted in exc SIS of his ORDERS
There are certain things left in
obscurity in the otherwise extremely
lucid demands" the Daily News adds
"A guarantee of immunity for neutral
vessels from attack evidently would
not meet the case, while the result of
a failure to comply with the American
governments confident expectation
is yelled in a mist of scrupulouSly
friendly wor.s. But it will be very
rash assumption on Germany's part if
she persuades herself that there is
nothing behind the veil.''
"Must Have Smiled Some.''
The Daily Express says President
Wilson and Secretary OF State Bryan
must have smiled some when deScrib-
ing German influence as always on
the side of justice and humanity"
at is inconceivable," the newspa-
per continues, that Germany will pull
down the skull and cross-bones, but if
she does President Wilson will have
won a great victory for humanity and
the allies. In the contrary case, Amer
lea may not actually declare war, but
all her aid win be openly and fully
put at the disposal of Potsdam's enc
mics and the day of deliverance will
be materially hastened.''
president Wilson," says the Daily
Chronicle, has at last spoken out. |
His note to the German government
is studiously courteous, but it is very
firm in substance. There is one para
graph which will jar on British feel |
ing. It is that in which Mr.. Wilson |
alludes to what he calls the humane
and enlightened attitude hitherto as
sumed by the imperial German gov
eminent in matters of international
right and speaks of German influ !
ence in the field of international obi |
cation as always engaged upon the
side of justice and humanity
One Earring Note.
''In view of Germanys fragrant vio-
iation of international right and the |
laws of warfare by sea, and land, these |
compliments sound strangely to the |
English ear. With this reservation,
We think the note is worthy both of |
the occasion and the great country |
whence it emanateS.'
After summarizing the note The /
Chronicle continues:
THE blunt language of the note on
the indiScretiOnS of the German am
baSSador to the United States and the |
fact that the document was sent di-
rect to Berlin, over his head, so to
speak, probably will make it impos-
sible for Count Won Bernstorff to stay |
IN Washington. s. Wilhelmstrasse
(the German foreign Office is located |
in this streeD will be hard hit to |
frame a suitable reply to the demands
in this able and searching |
document. Either Germany must |
change its methods of sea |
or face the prospects of a
rupture with the United
States
Courteous and Considerable.
The Times says:
1.-The American note to Germany,
both in substance and expression, re-
calls the best traditions of American
Courteous, and even con-
in form, it can leave Will
helmstraSSe under no illusions as to |
the state of American feeling or the |
of the United States
government. Nothing could be more
or more perSuasively ex-
pressed and not only the allies but the
whole world of neutrals may we'll re-
joice that the United States has at
length spoken out so forcibly and to
the point.
THE stand taken by the president
is something more than a declaration
Of a national policy. Nothing less than
the conscience of humanity makes it
self audible in his measured and in
cisive sentences. Germany finds her
self clearly confronted with the de-
mand to abandon her submarine war
fare on shipping