South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-01
GERMANY's DIPLOMATIC REPLY.

me note OF the German govern
ment isn't so bad as il might have
been II is evasive. yes but admit
ting a plea for further negotiations
and a better understanding Of the
facts involved. we take it that Ger
many's imperial government is a tri-
lie more level-headed than the Ger
man press. after all, just as sometimes
develops here in the United States with
regard 10 the American government
and the American press.
What the German press has been
giving us. no doubt. is pretty nearly
what the German people. acting under
impulse. would have liked TO have
1ad said. The imperial government,
however has given us its sober sec
0nd thought If we remember cor
rectly. it was the sober second thought
OF the American government that was
rather than the press comment that
followed the sinking of the Lusitania.
much of which =as decidedly war
ike
We need not take Germany's charges
against the Lusitania so very serious
~ II is asserted from washington
that all of them can be answered
readily. negauving the accusations.
but the note as framed is very diplo-
matte, opening plenty of loop-hOles
for further discussion. which Is
what diplomacy is for Diplomacy is
naught but an "epistolicaI" sparring-
match at its best. It ceases TO be di-
plomacy when that feature is elm
mated Ii is much cheaper than war,
and much less deadly. and has in a
million cases been employed to a much
greater advantage.
Yet back OF both notes there is a
suggestion of firmness that is bound
TO be regarded with apprehension.
The governments unquestionably un-
derstand each other. that neither is
exactly foolipg, but that eventually
some definite understanding needs to
be reached The tOrpedoing of
few more American merchantmen by
German submarines. despite the con-
tinued German assurances that this is
10 be avoided. may sooner or later
cause us 10 forget the Lusitania as
main issue. We may feel obliged TO
insist that the kaiser back his prom
ises with regard to our neutral ships,
by a more consistent line OF CON
duct
The recent torpedoing of the Ne
braskan. after the manner of the sink
ing Of the Gulhight and the Cushing
speaks poorly OF German sincerity
with respect TO neutral shipping. to say
the least II is expecting considerable
Of the American temper for Germany
TO think it can say it will not do such
things. and then go right on doing
them, without moving as 20 some de-
gree OF Indignation.
The department of state at Washing
ton will no doubt inform his imperial
next reply. We anticipate that ia
COWS evasions will be rather dis
tinctly pointed out the most of his as
sertions invalidated by emphatic
answers. and more or less polite de
mand for reply 10 the real issues.
will be presented. That real issue is
that submarine warfare unaccompa-
MED by the right of being searched
and the safety of neutrals. shall cease.
We are not concerned in the number
of Canadian soldiers on board the Lu-
sitania. nor that there were munitions
of war in the hold. The vessel was a
merchantmen. the American govern
ment has reason TO believe vas un-
armed. despite Germany's contrary
assertions and the cargo was within
the exemptions of American law. Tn
der such conditions Americans on
board had right TO expect that the
ship would be searched and their
safety provided for before the vessel
should be sunk International law
guaranteed them that protection and
Germany cannot take advantage OF
any OF Britain's cuSsedness or ne
glect in the matter. TO excuse its own.
This. II seems reasonable. the kaiser
and his ministers VIII eventually be
given TO understand.
And the American people will trust
Pres't Wilson and his advisors TO that
end Assured from the note as we are
that Germany is no longer as fluent
with its declarations OF war as il was
last August, il seems possible that the
imperial government may even reach
such an understanding in time with
out declaring war against Us. She
might even accept our treatment OF
her as an OUTLAW nation" rather than
invite us 20 direct armed conflict. but
all this is Eaphazzard speculation. In
other words. Germany has sent US a
note and said nothing which. as be-
fore stated. Is not as bad as IL might
have been. since we know just as much
as we did before IL reached us. We
can guess that Germany does not
mean 20 cease her submarine warfare.
neither as 90 beligerent merchantmen !
carrying neutrals. nor as 20 neutral |
vessels carrying contraband or any