New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-23
An Inconceivable Blunder.

ANY delay on the part of President
Wilson due to his desire 10 possess him.
self of every necessary statement and
affidavit incident to the formal authentica-
ton Of the case of the United States
against the German Empire arising from
the murder of American citizens on the
Arabic will be endured with patience and
without protest
On the course that American policy
must follow, on the essential step that must
be taken, there is no division of opinion.
All question of future policy was disposed
of when the first news of the massacre Of
the Lusitania came to these shores. IL
was the sober and solemn resolve of all
Americans that such protest as could be
made to Germany, such diplomatic repre-
sensations as were 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, listened to
our warnings, and with polite insolence
declined to moderate her policy or give
even the smallest attention to our de-
mands. We talked to her of the assassina-
ton of Americans and she replied by
vague protestations of friendship, coupled
with arrogant statements Of the condl-
tions under which she would refrain from
the killing of Americans on the high seas.
We laid before her the case of America
against Germany, incident to German
murder of American citizens, and she re-
oiled by narrating her wrongs suffered at
British hands.
So far diplomacy had done its work.
German statesmen were in possession OF
the facts of American purpose and policy.
Germany was informed of American de-
mands, Of American determination to pro-
tect its rights. To the final warning.
couched in language as plain as 1t 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 American Government.
What the real answer of Germany was to
be was set forth in all the public state
ments of the German leaders and printe
in the German newspapers. While her
statesmen were silent, Germany's press,
which is but the creature of the govern
ment, openly affirmed that German policy
would not be 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. 1t is an answer, and
it is a complete answer. 1t is all the
answer that any nation, any statesman
charged with the duty of maintaining
national honor and defending the lives o.
American citizens can need or ask. 1t is
an answer written in blood that carries a
force beyond the power of documents Of
state written only in ink.
1t is, then, inconceivable, it is beyond all
thinking, that the President of the United
States should again seek by any exchange
of views, by any direct or indirect COM
munication with the German Government
to give to Germany one more chance to
demonstrate her contempt of a nation
whose citizens she has murdered, whose
rights she has invaded, whose protests
and warnings she has treated with con-
tempt which is beyond anything in the
whole history of the United States. AS
well might the state confer with common
assassin as to his views upon an atrocious
crime committed by him as that President
Wilson should have further traffic with the
ministers of the German Empire.
Delay that is incident to the authen-
tication Of the American case by the
evidence of American citizens is wholly
justifable. But delay that is due to a
new approach to German rulers, new
appeal to the reason of those who are
directing that policy which has put Ger
many outside the boundaries of the
civilized world and made German name
hideous in the ears Of all civilized races,
this is but a policy of cowardice and
counsel Of fear. 1t is parleying with the
murderer and inviting him TO further
killing.
No one will now quarrel with President
Wilson for his moderation in the past.
ANY mistake that was made was made by
whole nation. So far his actions have
been in complete accord with the will and
wish of his fellow countrymen. What he
has done to keep peace, to avoid the break
with Germany, was done in the honest
hope that despite the outward evidences
of madness there still survived SONS
fraction of sanity in Berlin and that con-
Germ for the primary doctrines of humanity
had not utterly vanished from Wilhelm
strasse.
But all this ended with the Arabic.