Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-13
THE REPLY TO GERMANY

Mr.. Bryan has. by anticipation and
by his two public statements-anothe
one Is TO follow-so related his person
ality to the new note to the German
government that II is necessary to say
word more about his present position
There can hardly be two opinions about
his unimacinnble cgotism. He appeals
TO the American people" to drop every
thing else and "sit In Judgment upon
my decision TO resign" But they have
something better TO do. Besides. they
needed TO waste precious little time in
Judging OF Mr. Rryan's latest e.capade
Their verdict already is that he has
been guilty OF glarIng Inconsistency;
that he has treated his party and the
administration most unhandsomely
ard that his sudden break with the
Preaideht must nave been long con-
ttmplated by him. occasion being only
awaited in order 70 make Ia as ;hcatri-
cal as possible. Secretary of State
who checrfully signed the note of May
IL. but refused to put his name to
that OF June IL. must be either de-
hcient in reasoning powers or else a
man who has been nursing n grievance
and was resolved to md quarrel In a
straw. II is n disagreeablc and even
humiliatng subject for Americans to
discuss; and the sole excuse for allud-
ing to II now Is the fact that Br Bry-
ans ominous thundcrings In the index
may have given the country n false
impression OF what the reply 10 Ger
many would be. To-day he has the
effrontery to blame the press for max.
ing people think the note would be
~arlike! Let us drop Mr.. Bryan and
look At the note itself.
Its tone is admirable. Blus,cr or
menace does not show Its head in n
single phrase There is nowhere in
the note a hint OF that danger which
always turks near the pen OF one who
has TO write critical diplomatic notes
Indulgence in threats. what the dip
lomats call technically the mise on
demeure. No eithcr-or dilemma is
placed before the German government.
no time-linit laid down The chief
German contentious about the Lusi-
tania are, indeed. riddled. but the Ger
man government Ia Informed that II
II hns any real evidence to present our
government will give II due considera.
ton. Furthermore the German Foreign
Office is notified that II II has any mes
sage which ii would like the United
states To convey to the English gov
eminent. we are at its service for that
Ice OF Great Britain also for similar
object. The manner throuc hout is
courteous The greatest care has heen
taken not to offend German susccpti-
bilities neetilessly. If the sober second
thought Of the German government in
chncs IL TO do all that is possible TO
meet the American view. the President
has made the way easy The whole
note is n model OF good breeding and
correct form.
But what about the substance? Is
there any retreat from the positions
taken by our government in the note
of May 10? Not at all They are ex-
plicitly renewed. very earnestly and
very soiemnly." Moreover, the argu-
ment from law and human is made
even stronger and more precise than
In the earlier note Our government
having before it the preliminary OBJ
jections made by the German Foreign
aside is able at once to clarity
and fortify its own case. Herr
Won Jaeow had asserted that the
Lusitania left New York an arm
ed auxiliary cruiser. This our gov
ernment cntcsoricaliy and officially de-
nies. And, with the main German wit
ness now under arrest for perjury, 1t
is not probable that Washington will
he offered by Berlin convincing evi-
dehce" that the United States was dcre-
ltct In permitting an English vessel OF
war to make free use of our ports.
The German protest that the Lusitania
had contraband aboard, is dismissed by
our government as Irrelevant to the
question of the legality OF the methods
used by the German naval authorities
In sinking the vessel" No details
which do not affect the "indisputable
principle" OF law involved. or the ele-
mentary rules Of humane procedure I'm
warfare, viii be allowed to detach the
gaze OF the American government from
the grave responsibility" which the
German government has incurred In
torpedotng and sinking a merchant
man. carrying more than thousan nd
people who had no conceivable part
or lot I'm the war. and doing this with
out so much as a challenge or q
warming"
This Is definite and firm enough; and
so is the closing paragraph OF the note
in which the right of Americans Ia
travel on merchant ships under bel
ligerent flag is roundly asserted, and
In which the German government Ia
squarely asked to give "assura nccs
thatit Will take the measures necessary
to safeguard American lives and Ameri-
can ships. Germany will delude her.
self II she inhnsines that tho absence
OF anything like saber-rattling in the
Presidents note means a lack OF In
flexible resolution on his part, or on
tho part OF the American people. who