The Washington times., 1915-07-10
But Officials Are Impressed
With the Friendly Features
of Her Latest Note.
HAS CHANGED HER PRACTICE
Recasting Of international Law
for Protection Of NeutraIs
May Be Effected.


pressed with certain features Of Ger
many's latest note. which, In their
opinion, would seem to govern the
probable course Of the President.
The reply Is friendly. vastly more
SO than the first one. and seems to
indicate that the German foreign Of
f,ce, through the influence OF DR..
Meyer Gerhard. Ambassador Bern
storffs personal messenger. has at
last awakened to the fact that the
American people. while earnestly de-
|sirous of continuing at peace. are not
to be dismissed with the blunt asser-
tion that Germany can't concede any
thing.
At the same time. Germany clings
to what the United States regards as
an untenable assumption that be-
cause Great Britain has resorted to
illegal practices, Germany is Justified
in doing the Illegal thing. even to the
Injury OF neutral nations.
Advances Plausible Doctrine.
In imposing conditions upon the United
States whereby this Government might
barter for the protection of her citizens,
Germany puts forth the clever and
plausible doctrine that she cannot "ad-
nit that American citizens can protect
an enemy ship through the mere fact Of
their presence on board"
Germany still presumes to throw re-
| sponsibJltv for the Lusitania outrage
upon Great Britain. not. as in her first
reply. on the specific allegation that this
vessel was armed. but on the baris of
an order the English admiralty Is al
| legged to have given to all British mer-
chant ships to arm themselves, and to
ram submarines. and the promise OF re-
! wards therefor"
Question For Diplomats.
But officials here go beyond the text
| Of both of Germany's replies in figuring
out the main reason why the contro-
| versy need not result seriously. As
pointed out in The Times yesterday,
Administration officials lay much en-
phasis on the fact that while Germany
has been arguing In behalf of the theory
that she has the right to launch subma
rine attacks against merchant passenger
vessels without warning. just as she did
| in the case of the Lusintania. in prac-
tice she has done nothing Of the sort
| since the Lusitania was sunk
so long as Germany holds to this
| course, and does not, by repe ating the
| Lusitania outrage. make her submarine
practice conform to her theoretical con-
tentions. just so long will the Amerl-
"a n
question to the diplomats.
May Recast the Law.
| Therefore. officials believe that while
President Wilson, In all consistency.
cannot entertain the counter-proposaIs
| put forth by Germany, the discussion
can continue indefinitely and on a
| friendly basis. with the hope always
| before the United States that after,
| Of the war, she can bring about a re-
casting of international law for the
| surer protection of nations that re-
main at peace.
| interest to the following paragraph IN
! the German reply. paragraph sensing,
| as II were, the ultimate hope OF Presl-
dent Wilson and subscribing to it:
The imperial government cherishes
the definite hope that some way Will
or perhaps earlier, to regulate the
| law OF maritime war in a manner
| guaranteeing the freedom of the
| seas, and will welcome 1t with graft
| tude and satisfaction If 1t can work
hand-in-hand with the American
Government on that occasion.
Makes Impossible Proposals.
AS to the conditions themselves, which
/ Germany proposes. officials hold that
Germany must know that they are Of a
character which the United States could
not accept The position Of this country
| II is pointed out, is fundamental: that
| eign neutral nation. cannot be endan-
| gered on the high seas when its citizens
are engaged in innocent travel.
For the United States to accept the
| German proposals. 1t Is observed. would
be tantamoupt to saying that the rights
| of American citizens on the high seas
| are inviolable only If the government
makes them travel In such way as not
to Inconvenience Germany In the con-
duct of her war.
What Germany Proposes.
Germany proposes. first that she will
guarantee the safety Of American pas.
senger steamers if the United States
| will see that these vessels are plainly
marked and will guarantee that they
carry no contraband; secondly that she
| will guarantee the lives of Americans
travelling abroad. if these Americans
travel only on such American ships. OF
on neutral ships and not more than fouI
belligerent ships flying the American
flag, and so Vouched for as to theil
identity and cargoes
! In the opinion of these officials. II
would be improper. as we'll as imprac'
ticable. for the United States to enter
tain such proposals.