The Washington times., 1915-07-22

tional law on the high seas with COM
posure.
II Is recalled today that the last
American note on the Lusitania case
was sent to Berlin June 3. Berlin re-
piled Just a month later. The new
American note goes forward under date
of July q, or twelve days after the
reply from Won Jagow Is received.
This celeritv of action Is not consonant
with the idea that this Government
views the situation with complacence or
that 1t will tamely submit to further
violations of the rights of American life
at sea.
transmitted with the least possible delay
was that 1t was felt that to send 1t be-
fore it was too freely speculated on
would be for the best. 1t was felt that
Berlin to have the full text Of the note
there for consideration than to have 1t
, speculated on through the press: .r,-
Moreover, since the Orduna case OIL
eials here have been nervous lest there
be another Lusitania tragedy. 1t was
the feeling of the President and ms
advisers that 1t would be more con.
ducive to avoid further violations OF
American rights If the note were for
warded promptly than II there were
delay. ~.
The actual signing of the new note
by Secretary Lansing was at the Wnlte
ference on the document between the
Presidnt and himslf. The note was at
once put into code and turned over 10
the State Department telegraph onice,
& It was in the telegraph oh'ce at
The note has the ring Of finality about
q. It is couched. Of course, IN 1.-The the
kmooth phrases of diplomatic corre-
E,.t l~oty
Is revealed the WEAKNESS Of this nation
over continued parleying, and there 10
served notice that Germany is to be
Judged by her acts.
its former position. If Germany again
sacrifices American life. her course
cannot be construed as other than "un-
friendly" II her submarine com
tional law and humanitarianism, we'll
and good.
Is Now Up To Kaiser.
The note is interpreted to mean that in
q great international game Of diplomatic
checkers 1t Is the Kaisers move" 1t
Is understood that the counter proposals
contained in Germany's latest note are
firmly rejected. This Government can
not enter into a bargain with Germany
to mark" ships upon which Ameri-
cans may travel. thus permitting Ger
many to outline the conditions upon
which Americans may use the seas.
Nor does this Government feel war
Great Britain and Germany. Germany's 8
insistence that the United States shall
take into consideration the British block
ade In dealing with Germany's re-
taliatory submarine warfare Is not ac-
cepta BILE to this Government.
The final draft of the note was COM
pleted last night at conference be-
tween President Wilson and Secretary
-
withheld pending it's receipt in Berlin.
but in official circles there prevails a
fairly clear understanding of it's gen.
eral tenor. as outlined above.
Discourages Further Parleys.
The note is about 100 words in length.
and this length is attributable to the
evident desire of the United States to
wind up the diplomatic correspondence
which has dragged since the Lusitania
was torpedoed without warning. 1t is
apparently the purpose of the United
States to discourage further argumen'
tative exchanges. and notify the Kaiser,
with friendliness, yet firmness, that the
future relations between the two coun.
tries depend upon him.
What the result will be II the Kaiser 8
submarine warfare again exacts toll
of innocent Americans not even high Of
fcials are given to say today.
That serious consequence may fol
low Germany's disregard Of the. right.
of Americans who must travel at sea
is made evident by the American re
ply, which carries, however, the soften
ing expression by this Government tina,
it assumes and hopes Germany will moi
commit any act of unfriendliness.
The note. of course. reaff1rms the po
sition of this Government that Ger.
many should disavow the Lusitania dis
aster and proceed to make such repara
tion as Is possible for the American
lives lost when that liner went down
Regardless of Germany's future course
there will remain to be settled thu
Lustan!a case.