Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-05-31
REPLY INSINCERE
is PRESS OPINION
Held That Berlin's Attitude VIII Gre
ate Most Disagreeable Impress
sion in America

Editorial comment on German note
20 United States:
New York Times: The German re-
ply IS not responsive 10 our demand.
II does not promote that clear and
full understanding" as TO a grave sit
uation which President Wilson in his
note declared TO be desirable.
The manner in which Berlin receives
our representations in regard 10 the
sinking OF the Lusitania cannot fail 20
create a most disagreeable impression
in this country. which the notes out
ward corm OF courtesy viii not re-
move.
New York World: The German note
IN response 20 the American protest
against submarine attacks on mer-
chantmen does not meet the issue. II
Is worse than evasive. II Is insincere,
even pcttifogging. Regret viii be felt
everywhere in the United States that
the affairs Of a great people believed
20 be friendly have fallen into the
hands of men capable OF such desper-
ate trifinE.
New York Tribune. Germauy's an
sver 20 our governments protest Z
against the slaughter of its citizens,
peacefully and lawfully going about
their business on the high seas, viii
not satisfy American opinion Cour- [
teous on the surface as Herr Won ia I
COWS communication Is. IL does not /
strike the note which the people OF this /
country hoped that II would strike.
New York Press: Berlin's answer 10 /
President wilson's note is friendly. I
gracious and - unsatisfactory.
The point as made Enthusiastically in 4
President Wilson's note Is that the Won I
Tirpitz admiralty must stop slaughter !
Ing American citizens. whether in the 4
case OF "a GulfiEht or a Lusitania, /
whether by pairs or by scores. The /
Berlin foreign Office speaks OF a prob .
able misrepresentation on the part OF .
our government as 10 the real charac-
ter OF the Lusitauia. There is none. /
there could be none.
New York Herald; Germany has ig-
nored the real issue presented by the .
American note OF May Is. As was
clearly set forth in that historic docu-
mcnt. the attitude of the United States
Is not based on any one OF the series
OF events cited. but on the principle in
volved in the method OF warfare in
which they were incidents. The United
States stands today the champion OF
neutral rights and non-combatant hu-
nanity. In the case Of Germany versus
the United States holds a
brief for civilZation-and will TO the
end Germany must respect the rights
Of non-combatants travelling on the
high seas. II
New Yorker Herold: The reply OF
the Germany government shows con-
that Germany is most anx-
Ious 20 live al peace with America.
That she desires TO be shown where
she is IN the wrong is but natural, and
we think that fair minded men will
-oncede that with the vessel being car
ried on the navy list as an auxiliary
cruiser the presumption is strong that
German submarine officers thought her
armed and ready 20 offer resistance.
Chicago Tribune: Even though. as I
IS confident. II can be
shown that the Lus.tania was not
lrmed with guns or conveying soldiers.
Germany has succeeded in raising
POINTS which IN consideration of the
'ery advanced position taken by our
with respect TO arbitra-
ion .. We should find some embar-
-assment in refusing 10 discuss and
perhaps even referring to The Hague.
Chicago Herald: The American peo-
lie regret that the German govern
nent's answer fails wholly 70 meet the
main point at issue. both the specific i
,oint OF the slaughter OF American