Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-27
Germany Gives Assurance.

From Washington and from Berlin
come assurances that the Arabic in
cident is not to be allowed to stand
between this country and Germany
On the best authority we are in
formed that before the Arabic was
sunk Germany had given orders to
her submarine commanders to avoid
q repetition of the Lusitania case.
Details Of these instructions are I'M
necessary. 1t is enough to know that
Germany had recognized our ground
for complaint and our determination.
Even if she had RETAINED from giving
us the satisfaction of a courteous as
not permit it to occur again. we now
know that indiscriminate slaughter of
any craft suspected of containing the
blood of an Englishman is to cease.
We are told that henceforth "neutrar'
steamers will not be attacked-except
by mistake, Of course, and let us hope
that such mistakes as the Arabic will
not occur too often.
We are also assured that the Ger
man chancellor is genuinely interested
in the state Of feeling in America. He
has quite probably recognized the
temper aroused over here by allowing
such as the Arabic's sinking to an
swer our last note on the Lusitania.
This awakening of the German I'm
perial government from the soporific
influences of Organism is timely and
last chance to retain American friend
ship. In spite of the madness of war,
Germany should all along have
known that she could not afford to
ALLEVIATE America. Her entire SUBJ
marine campaign is not worth it, and
the sober records of history will show
how near we came to serious and
long -to- be-regretted severance of re-
lations-even nearer than in 1898 over
the Manila Bay unpleasantness.
Today Germany frankly tells us
that if German commander has act
ed contrary to instructions, ample
reparation will be offered. That is
handsome, and the same frankness
and evidence of a spirit of fairness
and justice would have held millions
Of Americans to a larger degree of
sympathy with the German cause.
But the whole German course, over
there and in this country, has been to
orleans toward the Imperial govern
ment. Americans who have from
choice selected this country in prefer
ence to the Fatherland. have abused
their foster mother in upholdng Prus-
sianism in all its brutal phases, to the
disgust of the great masses who had
no cause to favor one nation over an
other
1t is time that these things were WHIP
ed off the slate, and that duty rests
largely with Germany and witt, citi-
ems of German extraction in this coun-
try. fair recognition of the rights
OF neutrals and an acceptance of the
moral standards that have been per-
fected by civilized nations in the pro-
cesses Of Christian advancement. will
satisfy the American government and
cool the steadily increasing heat of
American feeling. -e-
Germans and others who are so
determined to stand straight that they
lean backward. seem determined to
treat the matter as though the United
States were the offending power and
that we should make concessions"
to Germany in order to relieve the
diplomatic situation. That is not the
case. We have in no way offended
Germany except to disapprove of her
debauchery Of moral standards and
international agreements. If the Ger
man government cannot back down.
because it has deceived it's people.
that is no affair of ours. We de.
manded the rights of humanity and
if that is offensive to Germany, it is
because she has builded a trap and
walked into it.
The situation at this hour is more
encouraging than at any time since
last February, and that it is so is due
wholly to German abandonment of its
attitude Of arrogance toward America.