Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-03
What We Demand of Germany

It HERE has been good deal of speculation
as to how the German government re-
ceived the information, which in its recent
note to President Wilson it asserted was in
its possession. that the Lustania, leaving
New York on her last and fateful voyage, was
armed cruiser.
OF course. the German government had
known for months that the United States
had required all beliigerent vessels carrying
American passengers to disarm. 1t had
known that before clearance papers were
issued an inspection of such vessels was made
by Federal officials. and that these officials
assurance that the ship was not armed and
that it carried no explosives preceded always
every permission granted to leave port. Car
riage of small arms ammunition is not pro-
hiblted to passenger-carrying vessel
II the German government had information
that the Lusiania armed, that informa-
ton must have been transmitted by wire or
wireless. an act which clearly violates the
neutrality laws Of the United States. 1t was
not in itself an important serious violation
but its consequences. assuming the good faith
of the German position. were deadly
1t is not likely that the President will con-
descend to much discussion of this aspect OF
the controversy He has the assurance Of
Collector Malone OF the port Of New York
that the Lusitania not armed, state
ment supported by the passengers of the
Lusitania. her officers and crew and the Of
hcials of the Cunard Line Against this posi-
tive testimony is an anonymous accuse ton.
1t all gets back to the German effort to
win time-to permit this country, as the
Berlin press indulgently suggests. forget
how the women and children on the Lusitana
met their deaths. We think the German
newspapers do too much credit to the ma
tional capacity for forgetfulness and too little
to the national adherence of the murderer
and sorrow for the brutally slain
The points Germany made, however trivial
are entitled to an answer from the President
because war between the two nations is a
thing too terrible to he approached save after
every effort to avert it, The discussion that
is invited, however. is an obvious attempt to
postpone decision on the merits and clear
statement of Germanys future course
Dreadful was the crime of the Lusitana
pitiful were the anguished cries OF the
victims wronged and outraged as American
sentiment has been and is, it is not vengeance
that is sought. There was no Indictment to
vengeance in the Presidents note nor in the
unanimous chorus Of praise and approval with
which the note was greeted by the America n
press. The demand made Germany was
that she should abandon methods of warfare
that expose American citizens travelling on
the ocean in the free enjoyment OF their neu-
trail rights, TO similar hazards. She was re-
CURED to promise that, so far her viola
tions of international law menaced our ma
tionals she would cease these violations
That is the demand--and il will not be
abandoned nor diminished. We may discuss
for a time what has been done but we shall
not discuss the things that are not TO be done
IN the future. AS to that, the President S
mind and the temper of the people are fixed
and unaltcrabe. Germany. when she has
heard again from Washington, will under
stand this beyond the possibility of bubble
or the shadow of doubt