Evening star., 1915-05-15

nifty and firmnesS with which the doc
ument is couched.
The Daily News suggests that
though it would be difficult after the
official defense for the sinking Of the
Lusitania and the expressions OF sat
isfaction of the German newspapers
over the incident, the German govern
ment may take President Wilson 8
irony at its face value and declare that
the submarine commander acted In ex-
cess of his orders"
There are certain things left in OBJ
security in the otherwise extremely
lucid demands"
Yelled in a Mist.
The Daily News adds: "a guaranty
of immunity for neutral vessels from
case. while the result of failure to
comply with the American govern
ment's confident expectation is veiled
in a mist of scrupulously friendly
words. But it will be very rash as
on ,Germany's part If she
persuades herself that there Is nothing
behind the veil"
The Daily Express says that President
Wilson and Secretary Of State Bryan must
man influence as always on the side Of
justice and humanity
Sees Possible Great Victory.
"It is inconceivable," the newspaper
continues. that Germany will pull down
the skull and cross bones. but if she does
President Wilson will have won a great
victory for humanity and the allies. In
tba a IL
ally declare war, but all her aid will be
openly and fully put at the disposal Of
Potsdam's enemies, and the day Of de-
liverance will be materially hastened."
The Times says:
THE American note to Germany, both
in substance and expression, recalls the
best traditions of American diplomacy.
Courteous and even conSiderate in form, 1t
can leave Wilhelm-Strasse under no il
lusions as to the state of American feel
ing or the determination Of the United
States government Nothing could be
more vigorously or moro pefsuasively ex-
pressed, and not only the allies, but the
whole world Of neutrals. may well rejoice
that the United States has at length
spoken out 30 forcibly and to the point
More Than Policy Declaration.
The stand taken by the President is
oohCIAAAh6 ahoA o lAb6h q uCAAdA dtioA "a q
national policy. Nothing less than the
of humanity makes itself
audible in his measured and incisive SEN
tence Germany today fnds herself clear
ly confronted with the demand to abandon
that demand we do not for a moment be-
lieve she will comply. We do not venture
to predict the outcome Of her dispute with
the United States. but two things may
safely be affirmed: One Is that the dis
pute itself and the possibilities latent in
It are matters of supreme moment to the
United States. to whose decision they may
safely be intrusted: the other is that
may be the issue, tho moral in
terests OF the United States and the allies
are henceforth indissolubly linked"
Called Definite Challenge.
The Daily Graphic in an editorial on
tho note has this to say: THE American
note is a definite challenge, and 1t IL DIFF
ficult to see how either country can eyade
an issue so clearly stated. It remains to
be seen whether Germany will face war
with the United States rather than
abandon the practice OF numbering nom
combatants and neutrals upon tho high
seas"
One Jarr1ng Paragraph.
President wilson, says the Daily
has at last spoken out. His
note to the German government ia
studiously courteous. but 1t is very
firm in substance. There is ono para :
graph which will jar on British feeling.
1t in that in which DIR. Wilson alludes
to what he calls the humane and en-
lightened attitude hitherto assumed by
the imperial German government In
matters of international right and
speaks of German influence in the field
of international obligation as always
engaged upon the side Of Justice and
I'm view of Germanys hagrant vio-
lation Of International right and the
laws of warfare by sea and land, those
compliments sound strangely to the
English ear. With this reservation we
think that the note Is worthy both OF
the occasion and the great country
whence 1t emanates."
Strikes at Won Bernstorn.
After summarizing tho note the
Chronicle continues:
The blunt language of the note on
the indiscretions of the German ambas-
sador to the United States, and the fact
that the document was sent direct to
Berlin over his head. SO to speak, prob
ably will mako 1t impossible for Count
Won Bernstorff to stay In Washington.
. Wilhelm -Strasse (the German
foreign office is located in this street)
will be hard put TO frame a suitable
reply to the demands formulated in this
able and searching document. Either
Germany must radically change its
methods Of sea warfare or face the
prospect of a diplomatic rupture with
the United States"
Concession Not Expected.
The Spectator in discussing the fore
casts Of President Wilson's note to Ger
many. before the text of the document
was available. says 1t believes that
Germany will not concede the American
but that on the other hand
President Wilson certainly does not
want to go to war.
After his earlier declaration that
Germany would bo held to a strict ac-
for tho loss Of American
lives" says the paper "Mr. Wilson could
not have done less than send such a
note. II he had acted literally on his
words he would have done much more.
But what we know of Mr.. Wilson's
of his previous policy
and of tho nature of his cabinet, goes
a long way to diminish our surprise.
"spoke as a Puritan"
when he tackled the problem of
Mexico he spoke in the high ana ad-
mirable tone of a Puritan who could
not tolerate the presence Of wrong.
. - We are quito sure that Prssi
dent Wilson is not at heart a pacidse