New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-14
WILSON'S NOTE
WHOLESALERS
OF THOUGHT
Clear, Dignifed Statement
of Rights of Neutrals,
Says Prof. Giddings.
BLOT OUT PARTYLINES,
SAYS S. w. FAIRCHlLD
Ridder Decries ClamOr for War
Declares German Ameri-
cans Will Fight for Flag.

LdliO w III lHhh W. - -
Samuel ". Fairchild, former presi-
dent of the Union League Club, OF
which Elihu Root is now head, said last
night that party lines should be oblilt-
Grated and President Wilson should
have the unqualified support Of the
country in his course.
at would not be polite for me to
criticise or praise officially the message
lust sent by the President TO the In
perial German government" said Mr.
Fairchild, "nor do | speak Tor the
Union League Club. But personally
feel in a time like the present party
lines should be withdrawn, and what
ever the President might say is proper
and should have the hearty support
Of everyone in the land"
Professor G. ". Kirchwey, Of the
Columbia Law School, said lalst night:
"The Presidents statement will sat
isfy those who demand a strong pro-
:, t against the German violation OF
neutral rights and the laws of war, and
is an effective statement of the Ameri-
can case. From this point OF view there
is nothing to be desired.
"The question is whether something
more was not required if the tension
between the two nations is to be re-
lieved and the danger Of war averted.
L is not to be expected that Germany
having officially approved the sinking
Of the Lusitania, will inow disavow II
and. having deliberately announced the
policy condemned by us. will at our de-
mand discontinue 1t.
Fears Rise of Feeling.
"The President must have known
that if Germany rejects his demands
and adheres to its present policy OF
naval warfare the hostile feeling OF the
country will arise TO the danger point.
Does he mean in that case 20 30 to
war?
at seems to me that he might have
/ avoided this danger by adding TO the
! protest, demand for reparatlon, etc.
some constructive suggestion, such as
the reopening of negotiations Tor
modus vivendi with Great Britain, or
calling of a conference OF powers 70
consider the German pretens.on. tor It
must be remembered that Germany
iustites the sinking of the Luslt2nla
on legal grounds, that she asserts tne
right under the new conditions Oh SUP
marine warfare TO destroy enemy ships
carving contraband of war without
providing for the safety OF those on
board.
We cannot admit that claim. II IS
clearly a case for arbitration or Tor
+ consideration in a conference or the
powers. 1t is a mistake. in my opln-
ION. Ior the United States TO act alone
in this matter, for 1t IS one that con-
Germs other neutral powers as well as
/ ourselves. And the united voices OF
/ the neutral world. after full end far
consideration of Germany case, would
/ be OF more effect than any protest or
/ demand uttered By the United states
4 alone"
Professor F. II. Giddings, or Column
bia University, said:
81 think that the note is clear and
dignifed statement of the rights OF
neutrals and of the principles when
/ the United States has throughout
maintained and has declared that It
would insist upon. The entirely dlplo-
matte and temperate tone of the note
/ is noticeable and can convey no pos
/ sible offence so far as form and cour-
/ tesy of language are concerned.
/ "Everything now depends on the IN
| tention of the imperial German govern
ment. If the intention is and has been
to treat the United States in accord
ance with treaty understandings and
continuance of friendly relations, the
! imperial German government can DO
no less than comply with the demands
of Washington. Anything short of that
short of a complete acknowledgment
/ of the position of the United States and
compliance with what is called for by
/ this government can only be con-
! strued as an intention other than that
which this government has attributed
to the Imperial German government.
The publication of the text of Presl-
dent Wilson's note 10 Germany was
generally received with favor by local
/ Germans and by sympathlzers or the
( German cause While some alarmists
predicted that Germany could not IN
| Justice to her people comply with the
/ request for a cessation OF her sub
marine warfare against Great Britain,
and that trouble might arise between
/ this country and Germany, the cooler
heads pointed with satisfaction TO the
dignifed and peaceful tone of the note.
/ Germany undoubtedly will make
prompt restitution for whatever dam
age has been done by her submarines
+ 10 American subjects" said Captain
! otto Becker, German army oiicer
connected with the War Relief Fund IN
! this city. I'm the heat Of a cam. align
unfortunate incidents are liable 20 oc-
cur which can be obyiated by appro-
pirate and timely demonstration. Presl-
dent Wilson's note is forcetul and to
the point, yet friendly in spirit, and
evidently designed TO give the German
government every opportunity to get
out of trying and delicate situation
with dignity and honor"
George Sylvester Niereck called at
tention 70 the fact that the modern
submarine is an entirely new weapon
and that therefore the laws OF inter-
national warfare laid down before the
submarine was known are no longer
pertinent. but ought 10 be augmented
| to cover the activities of this latest
factor IN modern warfare.
Dr. Bernhard Dernburg perused the
text of President Wilson's note to his
master with deliberate interest. lie
, said: