The Washington herald., 1915-05-31

ence 1t has been asserted BY m yre III, n
one onicial of standing in tn. last few
Gays That Germany is entitled to ask for
a determination of the ;acts Finally
conversation in Official luarters recently
mas been notably lacking in those refer
ences 10 the broad principles If hlima n
lty, and the duty of the t-ritei States to
the civilized world, which chsraC teriz.d
the discussion following the President $
note. ana which were so much applaud. ed
thr0pshout the world All these things
nave caused the creation of a feeling of
great uncertainty as to the attitude Of
the administration toward the German
| reply.
If there is doubt as to what the ad-
.iis'ratlon actually will do in this sit
| uation. there Is no uncertainty about the
attitude of that element of official wash
ineton which was most in favor of the
vigorous course taken by the President
IN MS note to Germany. This element
viii urge upon the President that he
promptly inform Germany that it's re-
sponse Is wholly unacceptab BILE to the
ohiled states. In that it ignores this gov
eIhHents demands. They will recon-
and Ihat tnese demands be repeated
ana accompanied with the statement thar
unless Germany meets the United States
promptly on the actual issues involved
'hs government will act at once The
scl,oh now suggested is the severance of
diplomatic relations with Germany
Regard Note q. Impertfnept.
IN the opinion of these men Tho Gar
nn note, polite as it is understood IN
IN language. grants nothing that the
oni.eo States asks and is made up mostly
Oh inpertinences. They see in IL ahso-
luteiy no concession beyond what Ger
hy promised In her circular note to
.he powers issued two days after the
SINKING of the Lusitanis. which auoun,
10 no more than that neutral sbips
not carrying contraband, would he naiJ
'or IL sunk by German forces.
me facts which Germany saws she
wants determined before discussing
the residents demands are nro,
nounced absolutely irrelevant to IN.
ISSUES. II Is declared that should ths
United states once commit itself to
discussion of the questions raised
Germany IN regard to the Lusitania
a once weaken its position
ana forfeit the greater part of its
claims upon Germany. There 10 No
oouot whatever about the administr,-
ton regarding these questions irrele-
want TO the case of the United States
NOT Oh It's satisfaction that IL could,
IL IL chose, answer them completely
ana dispose Of them offhand. II is
pointed out. however. that II tn.
United states consents to discuss
questions which it regards as irrele
want 1t will thereby admit by impIi-
cation that it does regard them .s
relevant. If it once admits this. il 10
declared. II will be equivalent to ad-
mitting that If the facts alleged by
germany are true. then they would
put dinerent aspect on the case and
would lead. therefore. to the admis-
sion that possibly Germany was ,us,,
fed in her acts. This is absolutely
contrary to the terms and spirit of the
Presidents note. and there is no de-
nial made Of the assertion that the
United States would forfeit its whole
case il it ever permitted it to reach
such pass
1t is urged that instead of this.
the United States should tell Germany
that there are no facts and can be n,
facts which could justify her in sink
ing a passenger ship by torpedoing
her without warning.
Conflict of Views.
There is every indication that this
week will see in Washington a tre-
mendous conflict of these opposing views
of the situation with Germany, the one
side favoring anything to avoid war, the
other holding that the United States
should live up to its principles regardless
of the consequences. With President
Wilson will rest the ultimate decision.
and around him the contest will be car
ried on. There is no doubt but that
representatives Of each view will. seek
to find in the manifestations of public
opinion in the next few days support fo-
its position.
1t Is maintained by the one side that
regard for its own honor requires that
the American nation stand by the posi-
ton taken with Germany with regard to
the Lusitania and similar cases. and
accept whatever may be the conse-
quences Of that position. The other side
insists that above all things. the Amer
lean people want to keep out OF war; and
would certainly condemn the administra-
ton which involved them In the Euro
pean conflict It Ii argued that many
Americans found Justification for Ger
many's attack on the Lusitania, while
others failed to regard the issue az one
warranting the resort 10 force to uphold
the principles for which the Presidents
note contended. Even those urging the
stronger course admit that while the
Presidents course was generally ap-
proved by the country. It was also stated
that whatever the United States did
oho . - ~sa nf