The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-17
Arbitration 1ndorscd.

Arbitration Indorscd.
Tho suggestion of arbitration. which
reached this country first through a
semi-officlal organ In Germany. Is most
acceptable to Germans here. They re-
garded II as u proposal which the United
States Government could with difli-
Guilty reject.
According to their opinion II woul he
~reasonab bic to expect that the German
Government would not submit such a
proposal without accompanyin 1t with
an offer to suspend submarine opera
lions temporarily. The arbitration, IL
IL suggested. would deal only with the
lsgal questions involved and the char
acter and amount Of reparation which
might he held to be due the United
States from Germany.
This arbitration proposal. however. Is
regardei az designed chiefly to divert
the attention Of the United states and
afford "A means of holding the entire
matter IN suspense TO gain time for
The success. OF what Is expected to he
the chief feature OF the German reply.
This most important feature IL the
familiar proposal that the United
States secure an abandonment Of the
German submarine programme alto
Rether by getting Great Britain to give
up her attempt to keep food from
reaching Germany from the outside
world.
1t H. suggested that the Berlin Gov
would he willing to suspend
ubmarine operations temporarily while
the United States was negotiating with
the British Government tD this end.
A new argument was brought forth
to-day in support OF this proposal.
which has been heretofore met In Adj
ADMINISTRATION quarters with TIE answer
that the t'ited States was not bargain
ing In its vital rights. nor was II at
tempting TO buy OF Germany from her
submarine programme
II has been declared also that while
h United States could. and did. make
such proposals 10 Great Britain and
Germany two months ago, II cannot re-
peat them now that the United States
has g~rievously suffered as "A result of
tho German operations.
The United States. IL IL asserted. Is
nc longer a neutral to the issue. but
a party to 1t. Furthermore, officials
here have also said that what Great
Britai did 20 Germany was no concern
Of this Government and thai its repre-
sentationS to Germany regarding sub
marine attacks could relate only to the
American case.
1t is now asserted in German quarters
that the very fact hat the President
made his appeal to Germany on such
high grounds-that IL. the laws of hui
manity ard neutral riShts-cntitled Ger
many TO meet the United States on the
same ground and ask II to act toward
Great Britain in what Germany consid-
ers 10 he violations 81 neutral rights OF
equal Importance and relations of the
laws OF humanity.
Neutrals are suffering. according to
h German argument, by the British
policy respecting trade with Germany
therefore II the United States has under
taken to uphold the cause OF the neutrals
II should try to compel Great Britain as
well as Germany to respect their rights,
Further. the Germans say that IL 1t Ia
violation OF the common laws of hu-
ma nifty 10 torpedo "A passenger ship with
neutrals on board then IL is also a viola
ton of those same laws for Great Britain
to attempt TO starve the German people.
II is urged that the United States should
use its influence TO prevent the latter
policy II Il sincerely is trying.to uphold
the laws Of humanity In this war.
II is known that Germans here are
trying TO get Berlin to present these
arguments in reply &c the Presidents
note. but that fact Is not regarded as
necessarily proof that the German Gov
ernments reply will contain them.
Neither is 1t taken for granted here that
II such a reply is sent II will be accept
able to the United States Government.
What officials are coming to expect
from Germany is IA cleverly written docu-
ment calculated 10 draw the United
States Government into = long discus.
sion and TO d.:ert attention from what
the Administration regards as the real
issues at stake.
Nothing has yet been put forth in Ger
man quarters here which - not effec-
lively answered in well informed Ad
ministration circles.