New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-16
Germany's Game of Bluff with the
"War Zone" Order.

German diplomacy seems 70 run nowadays 'o"-
ard attempts at trading nothing ior so"'e'"u's'
Tho note presented yesterday 70 our o'a'e De
,orn,ent bv Ambassador Bcrnstorft Is an INSTANCE
:, roint In il the German government in'l''a'eS
.;,1;,c,oss to recall the recent war zone
,,-o.lor,ation. with its hardly concealed threat
aca;nst the rights Of neutral commerce urea'
pu;.o; ;Il consent 70 allow food destined for 'he
n.e Of the civil population TO enter Germany
The United States is practically requested
become Germany's agent in carrying through "hi'
highly ingenious bargain.
7. ves courtesy on Germanys part TO tell us
chat r,ch a bargain would find favor IN berHh'
But the proper place 70 make the offer itSel1 was
~ London through Ambassador Page VINO Il no"
looking after German interests in Great britain
7. e not the function Of our government to under
- an TIE own behalf any negotiations with
cro.. britain looking TO q modlhcaton OF
Ryitish policy toward Germany or with German!
looking 70 a modification Of German policy TOWARD
croa+ BRITAIN. We are interested IN those poll
cies only in so far as they affect our rights DIS
,eutrals. We must deal with each infringement
~ those rights as it occurs, and Win 'he pel-
ros,en. who Is responsible for it We cannot
allow ourselves 10 be put by any diplomatic ruse
;r+o the position Of admitting that the recognition
Of our rights depends upon the satisfaction Oh
demands which either belligerent may make upon
the other.
The question Of our right to send American
food cargoes to German ports we snail se''e
directlv with Great Britain. The question OF 'he
wight of our vessels TO enter unbiockaded BRUSH
or+s spbiect 10 search and seizure for contraband
under the established rules of international law
,ro shall settle directly with Germany 1t IS
futi,a for German diplomats to think that the
limited States will compromise her own rights by
involving them in a dicker Of any sort between
Great Britain and Germany
Futile as it's effect may be, the Bernstorf note
seems TO point the way to a retreat by Germany
from the untenable position in which the lssu-
ance of the war zone" order landed her. That
order was in the nature of gigantic bluff The
sole dependence Of Germany for its enforcement
is the submarine But the submarine unaided is
unequal 10 the task of isolating Great Britain
and Ireland submarine cannot chase mer'
u chantmen and is untitled for boarding and search
4 ing neutrals suspected of carrying contraband
II is setting small boy TO do full grown man
work 70 dispatch a dozen submarines to the British
and Irish coasts and expect them both TO ami
hilate British shipping and 10 scare neutral trad
ers out Of those waters
Most Germans realize that the submarines car
accomplish little or nothing unless they rur
amuck-hence the arguments in the German
press that submarines should not be expected Il
conform 10 the rules of international law in hold
ing up and examining neutral vessels. The Ger
man government itself has never officially claimed
such an exemption. 1t could not do so without
abandoning all pretence of respect for interna
tional law. II made its bluff in order TO appeast
home evaporation, and probably now sees thai
the threats implied in its order cannot be made
good either against Great Britain or agains
neutral nations.
The United States can only stand fast on it
original declaration. II Great Britain and Ger
many can reach an agreement without our inter
position by which the war zone" proclamation
is withdrawn, well and good But if the wa
zone" proclamation goes into effect next Thursda!
the rights Of our mercantile marine must be re
spected all the same. Germany cannot ask US Il
send warships 10 convoy our merchantmen II
waters where they have perfect right to 90 un
convoyed. II submarines, trying to discharge 1
task for which they are not fitted, torpedo Ameri
can ships Germany will have 70 face the logics
consequences.