Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-05-13
TEE AMERIoAN NOTE 10 aERMANY.

The American note to Germany based ON the
loss of American lives and the violation of
American rights in the so-called war-zone,, is
not only vigorous statement of American
policy to protect national interests. but 3 sig
nificant statement of International law.
Germany has held, by word and by deed, that
the warnings issued by the German government
to neutrals against travelling in. the war zone
absolyed Germany from responsibility should
these neutrals suffer in, the course of the sub
marine raids on commercial ships. The Ameri-
can note Immediately puts the United States
on record as disagreeing sharply with this
view
President Wilson, his cabinet and Counsellor
Robert Lansing demand accounting of Germany
for the sinking Of the American steamer Gulf
light, the aerial bombardment of the American
steamer Cushing the loss of an American life
in the sinking Of the Falaba and the loss of
many American lives in the sinking of the Lusi-
tania.
Were the administration to agree in anywise
that German warnings can shift German re-
sponsihility, the note could not have been writ
ten. In the expression of sympathy" con-
veyed to the state department by Ambassador
Bernstorff under instructions from his govern
ment Germany said she regretted that 'Ameri-
cans felt more inclined TO. trust to English
promises than to heed German warnings" In
this and in other meaning phrases, the German
government plainly declared its position to be
that it snstains no responsibility. for the loss
of neutral lives in the war-zone, having issued
warnings against travel therein.
The American note demands accounting for
three occurrences which have taken place since
the warnings begun running as paid advertise
ments in American newspapers the Gushing,
Gulnight and Lusitania incidents.
It would indeed be a strange version of In
ternational law that would allow paid adver-
tisefients to abrogate treaties or even to excuse
or palliate violations of treaties. As has been
remarked before in these columns, because
Germany has the might to sink merchant yes
sells carrying neutrals, and because Great
Britain has the might to seize cargoes of every
description bound for Germany, it does not fol
low that either of them has the right SO to act
America s emphatic note to Germany s.puts
itsup' to Berlin in no uncertain terms. We be-
lieye the whole country viii agree that the time
for some exceedingly plain speaking has come.
There WILL of course, be some in our country
ready to cry that the United States is unneutral,
thatNit is siding with the Allies, just as they
were ready to make the accusation when al
most simultaneously the state department ad-
dressed Germany upon its submarine war and
Britain upon its food blockade. There will be
as littletruth in such an accusation now as then
and that there was not truth then soon be
came plain, for both sides at once began crit
cising America.
The tone of the German response will deter
mine Uncle Sam s further steps, The temper
of the United States makes it certain that the /
administration viii have country wide support
in demanding of Germany the strictest account |
ing for the loss of American lives.
Il.