Evening journal., 1915-06-14

Those who maintain that the latest
note to Germany does not alter in any ,
respect the attitude by the United I
States in the note of May 10 have not
given sufficient attention to certain
readiustments in style and form
which the later note shows. THESE
establishments are. in our opinion
significant, and may perhaps be taken
to indicate that the policy of the adj
ministration as outlined in the first
Lusitania letter will be gradually
conformed in its entirety to the policy
outlined considerably more simply
and clearly in the note of February
10.
The note of February 10 is the best
and most impregnablo statement yet
made Of the American view. II warn
cd Germany that, so far as the United
States and its citizens and vessels
were concerned, German operations
in the "war zone" about Great Britain
and ireland would have to be con-
Quoted in accordance with the recog-
nized rules of warfare at sea. IL did
not suggest in any way that the
United states might insist on Ger
many's observing the recognized
rules of warfare at sea in attacking
merchant vessels belonging to other
neutral nations or TO enemy nations
on which no American citizens were
passengers.
Hero are the two essential pas
sages of the communication of Febru-
Il. If the commanders of German
vessels of war should act upon the
presumption that the flag OF the
United States was not being used in
GOOD faith and should destroy on the
! high seas an American vessel or the
lives of American citizens it would he
difficult for the Government Of the
United states to view the act in any
other light than as an indefensibl'
violation of neutral rights which i
wonld be very hard indeed to recon
clio with the friendly relations nov
so happily subsisting between IN
two governments.
"2. If such n deplorable situation
should arise, the Imperial German
Government can readily appreciat
that the Government of the Unite
states would be constrained to hol
the Imperial German Government t
strict accountability for such act
of their naval authorities and to tax
such steps as it might be neccssar
To take to safeguard American live
and property and to secure to Amer
can citizens the full enjoyment
their acknowledged rights on the mig
seas"
This is a strictly legal matter-o
fact statement of the American att
tude. II includes no notice of pu
nose on the part of the United stat
In demand of Germany general o
servance of the dictates of humanl
in sea warfare. or to insist that Ge
man submarina methods be modih
D except in so far as they injurious
1 affect the rights of American citlzef
The note of May Is bore in mil
the wise restrictions of the note
February 20 when it said in the co
= cludinr paralraph: "The lmperi
/. German Government will not exps
q the Government of the United stat
10 omit anv word or any act nec'
sarv 10 tho performance OF its sacr
duty of maintaining the rights OF
United states and its citizens and
a safeguarding their free exercise a
. enjoyment"
e But in the body Of the note We
i two passages which seemed TO con'
general protest against the contiI
., ance of submarine warfare on unar
ed merchantmen of other natiol
% whether Americans or American
terests were directly involved or \
These passages we're:
10 Il The Government of the Uni
States. therefore. desires 70 call
IN attention of the Imperial Germ
o. Government with the utmost earn'
In ness to the fact that the objection
q. their present method of att
80 against trade OF their enemies
in the practical impossihility OF
ploying submarines in the destruct
nd of commerce without disregard
/, those rules of fairness. reason. JUS
and humanity which all modern oI
no ion regards as IMPERATIVE. II
practically impossible for the ofiC
of a submarine to visit a morch;
=, man at sea and examine her par
and cargo. 10 is practically impo
'ly Bile for them TO make a prize Of !
on they cannot sink her without lea'
her crew and all on board of
to the mercy of the sea IN her 81
boats. Manifestly the