The Washington herald., 1915-07-16

Berlin Sincere, for Once.
The German communication explaining the
submarine attack on the American steamer Ne
braskan, delivered to Ambassador Gerard and made
public by the State Department yesterday, is SO
! different in tone and substance from any note on
! the subject of naval warfare that has come to
Washington from Berlin to cause wonder and
speculation 1t is frank, sincere, convincing, and
while not, of course, touching upon the principle
at issue between the two governments, that re-
lating to the sacrifice of lives of noncombatants
by submari inc attack, it leaves nothing to be de-
sired so far as the one incident of the Nebraskan
is concerned. The Nebraskan was torpedoed
by mistake, no lives were lost. and Germany is
willing to pay for the damage done. 1t is pity
that previous communications from Berlin did not
with equal sincerity acknowledge and meet square
ly the questions involved. They might be no
nearer solution today. but they could be discussed
in friendlier spirit and the indignation in this
country the Lusitania atrocity would not
have been aggravated, it has been, by what has
been resentfully regarded as German Indifference
effrontery.
The tone of the communication on the Nebras-
kan incident may be regarded by some who read
it indicating change of attitude in Berlin,
but there is little evidence to support any such
time since the began Germany was con-
fronted with an issue between the two countries
which her diplomacy could permit itself to meet
squarey and explain in terms of sincerity. This
latest communication. yielding no ground in the
controversy over Germany's practice of killing
noncombatants of any nationality yet carries the
conviction that the officers of the German subma-
rine which attacked the Nebraskan mistook the
vessel for belonging to belligerent. 1t has
the ring of truth, lacking in every other commu-
ncation from Berlin. The note have no bear
ing the grave situation which exists; it
merely emphasizes the fact that Berlin's previous
nsincerity, evasions, and subterfuges have done
much TO bring about the crisis that is the
subject OF President Wilson's most earnest
thought and dcliberation.
simultaneously with the publication of this
German communication appears a dispatch from
asserting that Germany and Turkey
are to join in the recent representations of Aus
tria Hungary to this government concerning the
expectation of munitions to the allies. While
the entire Austrian note received in Washington
more than two weeks ago, has not been made pub
lie it is known that its contention is that in per-
uniting such shipments of munitions the
United States fails to observe strict neutrality
The public far is not permitted to know the
OASIS OF this Austrian contention, and is neccS-
sariy mystihed The right of American manu-
facturers to supply arms and ammunition to any
Of the bellgercnts in a position to purchase and
transport them has not only never been questioned
in responsible quarters but many able authorities
take the view that embargo by the United
States upon such shipments to the allies would
be violation of neutrality. Such shipments are
of war; subject capture and seizure |
by the enemies of the countries to which they
are consigned, and therein lies their remedy. |
The Berlin government has suggested
that such shipments constitute violation of neu-
trality. On the contrary, Minister Jagow has |
been represented admitting that this country !
is acting strictly within its rights. Were it not, |
t is reasonable to suppose that Germany would
have protested long ago 1t is difficult to I'M
ierstand what diplomatic or other advantage Ger
many could gain by waiting for Austria, en-.
couraging Austria to assume untenable posi-
ion which Germany herself has not assumed, |
ind then giving Austria her support. Taking into
consideration all the information at present avail
able in this country, the Amsterdam dispatch pre-
iicting the joint support of Austria's contentious
~ Germany and Turkey must be regarded as I'M
worthy of credence.