The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-06-11
wilson firm ON
SUBMARINE ISSUE
Retains Conviction Undersea
Craft Cannot Be Used on
Trade Vessels.
DEMAND APPLIES TO u. S.
Germany Not Asked to Abandon AL
together Present Mode of
Warfare.

That President Wilson retains the con-
viction, expressed in his note of May IL
that Submarines cannot be used against
merchantmen. as the last few weeks have
shown, without an inevitable siolati III of
many sacred principles Of justice and
note to Germany. He does not. however,
demand that Germany abandon the use
of submarines altogether If she can find
way to use them without violating tine
principles the United States IS undertake
ing to uphold
In this note. as in the previous note
the Presidents specific demands relate
only to the Safeguarding of American
lives and American ships. though he
al gain denies the right Of Germany to TN
danger the lives of noncombatan in the
course of her attempts to capture or de-
stroy unressting merchantmen. 1t IS felt
here that the way is open to Germany to
meet the views of the United States il
she will but permit her submarines to be
exposed TO the same risks that torpedo-
boat destroyer or other warship daily en-
counters
Germany Not Yielding.
II tdhiiot Ie StdteN. however, mat ON
Gals here M seen anything coming
from Germany. either from the press or
from officials. indicating that the Ger
man government is in any frame of mind
to yield one jot of its submarine pro-
gram. 1t has been felt hitherto that
Germany did not realize or appreciate
the seriousness with which the situation
is viewed in this country. or the dcpth
OF the Presidents determination to do
oil he 70 hp1l ha vi ni- ~,
has declared to be sacred
1t is now no secret that the administrl-
ton is counting largely upon the fact of
Mr.. Bryan's resignation to impress this
realization on the minds OF the Germans
though dispatches show the German
press still under the impression that. be-
ing pro-English. Bryan resigned because
enough to suit him. Ambassador Bern
storffs report Of his talk with the Presi-
dent, supplemented by the report OF mis-
personal emissary. Meyer Gerhardt, en-
route to Berlin. are also counted on to
make Germany see the situation as ,he
United States views it.
The one suggestion in the Presidents
note which is regarded opening a pos
sible avenue to further discussion is his
offer to transmit to Great Britain any
proposal which Germany may have to
make for the modification of the methods
of their maritime warfare. This offer is
far from asserting to the German sug
gestion that the United States itself I'M
dertake to buy immunity from the sub
marine menace by inducing Great Bril-
tain to alter her blockade policy, and
whether the German government will
avail itself of the Presidents willingness
to act as medium of communication is
doubted. In any event, II is felt by Of
flcialS here that the offer ilal fo
prove a real test OF Germany's sincerity
in repeatedly stating that she is will
ing to abandon her submarine program
il England will let foodstuffs and raw
materials into Geramny.
England Rejected Proposal.
In February. the United States. in its
belligerents in an identic note. England
refused to accept the proposal made on
the ground that Germany had not fully
assented. and it has never been felt that
the United States could in its own behalf
make the proposal a second time Further
more. such action the President has con-
sidered more than ever impossible by
virtue of the fact that since February
the United States has lost its status as
disinterested neutral in relation to Ger
many's submarine operations. and is now
a party to the issue itself
Even acceptance of this offer on the
part of Germany would not. il is stated
upon authority. alter in the least the po-
sition of the United States with reference
to the issues it has taken up with Ger
many. The Presidents demands. for dis
avowal and reparation for the submarine
attacks already committed against Amer
lean life would still stand. even though
Germany should come to an agreement
ENGLAND 10 of cub
marine operations Finally. the Presi-
dents words made il clear that Germany
must not expect that she can drag the
United States into her differences with
Great Britain by holding out the aban-
donment OF submarine operations as .