Evening journal., 1915-09-23
MR.. WILSON'S GERMAN POLICY

Elsewhere on this page today The
Tribune prints various comments on a
recent editorial discussing Mr.. viii
sons German policy. Several of these,
as well as other letters. have asked
for a further statement of The Trib-
une's view. With this request, The
Tribune cheerful complies.
The German-American difficulty
grew out of the German note pro-
claiming its submarine blockade of
Great Britain, which was issued in
the first week of February. and was
juatiiied as an act of reprisal against
the British for alleged violations by
them Of international law to the det-
riment of Germany.
When this blockade" was proclaim
ed there were open TO the American
government two courses. The block
ade itself was no blockade under any
previous convention describing block.
AIDES. Il constituted an infringement
Of the rights Of all neutrals. and the
United States. like all other neutrals,
was fully justified in protesting
against IL and resisting il to the ut
''lA AnOEAf nus int I1Auid al AOuLCt VI
the administration was to send a
note to Germany protesting against
the blockade and informing her that
II would neither be recognized nor
tolerated.
But this course carried with it an
obvious danger. If Germany believed
II more important to her interests to
continue the blockade with its injur.
les to Great Britain than to pay at.
tention TO the American admonition
then the United states would be
obliged TO make good its protest by
actual force or else submit to a com
plete and humiliating rebuff. BY pro
testing the United States would take
the field as the champion of neutral
rights of the world. but no champion
ship could be without the very grave
risk of subsequent war with Germany
On the other hand, If Mr.. Wilson be
lieved that his country. desired peace
AZ any price, he could reach an easy
solution by making only the mere for
NAL protest against the blockade
which would leave the United States
on record against the invasion of its
r. yhts and then agree to a modus
vivendi with Germany, insuring the
safety of ships flying the American
flag which travelled the war zone
Such an agreement Germany was al
all times ready to make, and at no
time has she molested an American
passenger ship or declined to make
good the loss incident to any attack
upon an American merchant ship.
The second course was patiently in.
glorious. Il would have invited much
just criticism from the portion of the
country which believed il was the duty
of the government to defend unques.
toned rights. The Tribune would
unhesitatingly have opposed such a
course, because it is not of the peace.
at-any-price persuasion. But such a
course would have been safe. Follow.
ed by a reclamation by the Presi.
dent, similar to that issued in the
case of Mexico warning Americans to
keep off belligerent ships, there would
have been eliminated the peril of such
incidents as the Lusitania, the Arabic
the Orduna, the Hesperian, if the lat
ter was sunk by a submarine.
But Mr.. Wilson could not make uT
his mind 20 commit himself 10 eithei
course unreservedly. He began b,
NtUNlMk HNt NAAAAA aNAOnMAnnAiANN
note. This was all right if he mean
It. BIT he was told In cabinet meet
ing that the note would mean a grave
situation. If Germany disregarded Il
and that If such a note was to be sen
then steps should be taken to make i
good But the view that prevailed
was that Germany would not dare t
defy the United States because of he
other difficulties. and that it was saf'
to take a high ton with Berlin be
cause Berlin was helpless and mus
submit.
In a word. there was dispatched L
Berlin a note which was. under th'
circumstances, only a gigantic bluff
for both Mr.. Wilson and Mr. Bryal
we're committed to the notion tina
the country desired to be kept out o
war at any cost. They we're enamour
ed of the idea that by speaking firm
ly. without ever meaning to make goo