New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-19
Conditions of Peace and War.

tbs German submarine sighted by the
Transatlantic did not attack the passenger
shin. the incident must serve to remind
Americans Of the gravity Of the existing
crisis and Of the conditions which to-day
make for war or for peace.
So far as it is possible to judge now
an unsatisfactory answer to the Presi-
dents note by the Imperial German Gov
eminent will not be accepted as a cosns
belK bv Washington. We shall not declare
war because Germany declines to disavOw
the act Of her naval officers in sinking the
American passengers on the Lusitania.
What President Wilson will do in this
case is fairly clear. The American Am
bassador will be withdrawn from Berlin,
all our consular agents will be called home
and passports viii be handed to similar
German representatives in the United
States. This means the end of friendly IN
tercourse. q diplomatic break, but not
break to be followed by a declaration Of
war.
Yet the real situation viii not he as
simple as would appear. Germany Will
not return an unfavorabIe answer if she
merely means to decline to disavow the
Ius;tania massacre. She will not quarrel
with the United States at a critical mo-
ment. when al Italian declaration Of war
is imminent. over a technical question re-
lating only to a past occurrence.
An unfavorable answer from Germany
win mean that, having weighed all the
considerations carefully, the ministers Of
The Kaiser have concluded that German
interests will be more grayely imperilled
by abandoning the submarine blockade
than by engaging in war with the United
States. Americans should remember, too,
that such decision is not in the least IN
likely or lacking in material justification.
1t may be assumed that the German
answer will not be unfriendly or couched
in bellicose terms. 1t may be guessed
that it will propose new bases for discus
sion. argument, arbitration. But it must
equally be assumed that TO all these the
United States can make but one answer.
We are then thrown back upon the ulti-
mate and decisive question: Will Germany
continue 10 kill Americans on the high
seas? If she does, then it is impossible to
see any escape from war Those that
have been murdered are not to be avenged
by bloodshed. German refusal TO make
requested amends will not mean war, bat
a peaceful cessation Of diplomatic rela-
tions. But continued murder can mean
nothing more nor less than declaration
of war by the United States.
The main circumstance to be recalled
at the present time is that what we call
murder the Germans justify as necessity.
They assert-not improbably they honest
" believe-that the ammunition now flow
ing into Great Britain and France from
the United States will decide the war. The
same sort Of reasoning moved Germany TO
20 through Belgium, although this in
sured a British declaration Of war, and
Great Britain's capacity TO injure Ger
many was ten thousandfold greater than
ours can ever be.
The conditions for peace and for war
must be made in Germany. il Germany
decides to continue submarine operations
and sink other ships carrying Americans,
this will amount 10 a decision for war.
No nation can permanently endure the
slaughter of its nationals in defiance Of
all international law without appealing to
arms. The response Of the American
people to President Wilson's note is the
best evidence that no such spirit is abroad
in our own country.
Let US in the present crisis be entirely
frank with ourselves and wholly clear
sighted in the face Of unmistakabe pos
sibilities There is no spirit of jingoism
not the smallest hint Of chauvinism, in the
nation. If we 90 10 war we shall be
dragged into it against our will and
against our wish. But let as not blind
ourselves to the plain fact that there is
real, great danger that We shall be.
dragged in.
Peace or war depends upon the single
condition that German craftsmanship IN
choosing between the t~o shall find the
greater profit in peace. 1t is next TO I'M
,.o.niLlo Cor na sittiro nLietlY al homo. !