New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-11
The New Note to Germany.

Judged IN connection WIN inc events VI
the last few days and measured by the
anticipations Of a new birth Of frmness
and vigor at Washington which they ex-
cited the new note to Germany will prove
a disappointment.
Judged even apart from those events
and expectations, and comparing 1t on its
intrinsic merits with the notes Of Febru-
ary 10 and May 10, it must appear weak
and inconclusive. We cannot feel that t
expresses with the necessary earnestness
and incisiveness the attitude Of the great
mass of Americans toward the outrages
committed on the high seas by German
submarine ommanders-outrages which
eliminated in the Lusitania massacre.
The country expected a still more con-
crete and positive assertion Of oar posi-
ton as the champion Of neutral rights
It gets an assertion milder in form and
cnening the doors wider than ever TO pro-
longed and dilatory diplomatic discussion
The first and strongest impression
which the public will get from the note is
that it does not clear up at all the mys-
tory Of Mr.. Bryan's resignation. Mr..
Rrvan embarrassed the administration ana
astonished the country by creating an
issue between himself and the President
on the form and content Of the present
note thus forcing his own retirement
He even limited that the document which
he refused to sign could be construed both
here and abroad as something IN the nat
IRE Of an ultimatum. In the statement
which he issued last night he compares the
communication which he declined to IN
dorse with Acknowledgements fatal ultl-
matum to Serbia.
But that comparison is unintelliglole 10
any one who reads the courteous, placid
and non-defnitive periods of the new VIII
son-Lansing letter. Mr.. Bryan loves the
spectacular in politics. He knows the
value Of Hmelight effects. The contrast
between what the note is and what he
wants the country to think it is raises the
question whether he did not deliberately
carry out an intention of some standing
when he broke with the President at what
seemed to him the psychological moment
to 20 out Of Office in a blaze of theatricality
and glory.
For use against Mr.. Wilson he seized
the issue of pacifcism first, last and all
the time, while there was yet fair chance
to accentuate the differences between his
point of view and that of the President.
II Mr.. Bryan had chosen to stay in
Office, after discreetly limiting at dis
agreement with his chief, his friends could
have pointed TO the new note as a distinct
concession TO his ideas and influence. He
had signed the more explicit and positive
notes of February 10 and May 10, in the
latter case much against his personal in
clinations. But in the new note all the
shifting of the governments attitude has
been in his direction.
The offer to receive and consider any
further evidence which Germany may pre-
sent in rebuttal of our own statements
that the Lusitania was not armed, did not
carry explosives contrary to our naviga.
ton laws and did not have on board Or
ganized forces Of any Of the belligeren;
powers, is an invitation to more breath.
inc space" discussion Of the sort which
Dir. Bryan holds to be so essential in the
determination Of international difficulties
The further suggestion that the United
States is ready TO resume its friendly eff
forts 10 bring about an understanding BE-
tween Great Britain and Germany, by
which all methods of military reprisal
violative of the law Of nations are to DC
abandoned, is still more generous inT.
tation 10 prolonged argument. Since the
essence of Mr.. Bryan's policy is delay for
purposes Of second thought, he could have
found much personal satisfaction and 9
large measure of vindication in signing
q document which gives ample scope for
the pauses through which diplomacy Gus
tomarily brings its purposes TO fruitage.
If the note leaves unraveled the mys-