New Britain herald., 1915-07-12
FRENCH COMMENT
ON BERLIN'S REPLY
German Note to U. s. Termed
Monument Of ImpudenCe

papers yesterday puDHsned In full the
text Of the German reply to the Amer
lean note. Such headings as "A
Monument Of Impudence" and "a
Monume nt of Hypocrisy, express the
attitude assumed generally toward
the reply by the. papers in their edi-
torials.
The Echo de Paris" says regard
ing the German answer:
The note marks sensible progress
over the preceding notes. To cynicism
the Germans now add persiflage. To
comment seriously on such morsel
would be to. permit ourselves to be
flouted by the Germans; to laugh at
it would perhaps fail in respect tow
ards the Germans two victims-thc
dent Wilson
Impudent Cynicism.
The Figaro says it is embarrassed
to determine which is the more re-
markable, the impudent cynicism of
German diplomacy or the extra
ordinary presumption leading them to
believe that the United States would
be satisfied with such a reply
The paper adds that 1t is puzzled
as to why 1t took SO long to produce
nothing save affirmations, which
seem to transcendent irony, Of the
zeal Of the imperial government for
the principle Of humanity
Under the heading The German
Reply to America is Tissue of Quib-
bles," the Petit Parisien, = after sum-
marizing President Wilson's note
says:
Reply Disdainful Irony.
ITO this the reply Of the Berlin
cabinet seems to be in disdainful
irony. It brushes aside the doctrinal
viewpoint set forth by the. president.
It enum crates, in terms which might
be intended to be funny. the COM
plants of the Tuetonic admiralty
against the Franco British blockade.
It offers America derisive guarantees
and openly seeks to prolong Infinitely
the negotiations that it never intended
to end"
The socialist paper 'Humanite"
TIL German reply exceeds anything
one might have expected of the blind
ness OF the Berlin cabinet With
tranquil audacity it throws upon the
allies the responsibility Of all the
violations of international law OF
which Germany has been guilty during
the eleven months. For the govern
ment of William II it is always the
victims fault.
True to System.
The "Gaulois" says German diplo-f
macy remains true to the system: Ac-
cusations without proofs.
The Journal asserts that Ger
many seeks a means Of exploiting the
liberty Of navigation desired by the
Americans
The Radical publishes the text
Of the reply without other comment
than the heading "A Monument OF
Hypocracy.''
The "Matin' expresses indignation
at the German note. under the head
ing "A Monument Of Impudence.''
VIII Be Rejected
The official German note regard
ing the Lusitania incident contains
nothing in the nature of concessions
which the delay in its preparation had
seemed to Indicate says the Temps
The newspaper adds:
The proposition made BY Berlin to
allow ships carrying American passen-
gers to pass in safety, providing that
government; that they carry distinc-
tive signs and that the United States
government guarantee that they do
not carry contraband, ceretainly can
not be admitted by the cabinet at
washington
president Wilson, from the begin
ming, has placed the question Of the
broad principle OF International law
and humanity. and the firmness of his
attitude gives assurance that he will
not abandon that principle or lend
himself to any arrangement that
would diminish the dignity or en-
croach upon the sovereignty of his
country"
Geneva Journals. Comment
The Geneva Journal according
to a HAYES dispatch, makes the fol-
lowing comment on the German note:
America demands for her citizens
the right to travel on any ships Of
commerce without being exposed to
any attempt on the part Of the Ger
mans, except what International law
permits. Germany replies Il will let
the American ships pass as for other
ships, u shall stick to my practices.
You can enjoy your rights on condi-
ton of renouncing them.
Will the government at Washing
ton be as easily pleased as the form
er secretary of state ? Will it definitely
pass over the incidents of the Cush-
ing, Gulf1ight, Lusitania, Nebraskan
and Armenian %
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