New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-08
German Experiments.

TO nudge from present luuiNdliOH'' ''N
German Government is now endeavoring
TO negotiate with the American public over
the heads of the President and the official
representatives Of the United States. To
DO this it is employing correspondents Of
American newspapers in Berlin as Its
agents. and through them presenting to
the American public proposals for an
accommodation of the German-Amcrican
affair.
Obviously German diplomacy hopes that
German-Americans and American pacifsts
will seize upon these informal suggestions
as basis for an agitation to compel the
President to modify the demands he has
made upon Germany in the name and with
the approval of the country.
There is no occasion for anger or resent
ment at this interesting experiment in zap
pealing to the people" which the Germans
are making. Americans will naturally re-
gret that Germany has chosen to delay so
long her reply to a demand for an eXplana-
ton of the murder of American men,
women and children. But if German d.
plomacy chooses to follow this course,
meanwhile RESTRAINING German naval
forces from new massacres 'of Americans,
we can afford TO wait patiently and calmly.
What is essential, however is to recog-
nize what is being attempted and to con-
tribute nothing to the success Of the Ger
man venture. The issue between Germany
and the United States is perfectly clear. 1t
does not admit Of obscuration. 1t can only
be discussed on the basis Of fact, and the
fact is the Lusitania massacre.
President Wilson would have been justi-
fed in converting Congress. Congress
would have been warranted in declaring
war. The sinking Of the Lusitania was a
coeps b-T But President Wilson wholly
c~esped American public sentiment when
he refraued from such course. Amer-
can feeling toward Germany, the anger,
sco,n. contempt Of the mass Of TIE Ameri-
can people for the crime was unmistaka-
b.e. But from the very outset it was
equally plain that there was no body Of
sentiment i'm the United States favorable
to making war upon Germany merely to
avenge our dead
But it was not less clear that repeti-
ton of the crime would mean war. There
was no mistaking in the early days OF May
the widespread resolve that the living
should henceforth be protected. That feel
ing remains unchanged. Another Lusi-
tania incident would automatically remove
the whole dispute between Germany and
us from the field Of diplomacy.
So long as Germany refrains from such
an offence we can endure the delays Of ne
gotiation; we can suffer German diplomats
to twist and turn and mannuvre to escape
from the terrible dilemma the authors of
the policy Of "terribleness" have set for
them. They have to consider domestic as
well as international aspects and deal with
internal difficulties little known to US.
The present bombardment of Berlin dis
patches may continue, then, without real
concern for us precisely as long as we
Americans keep the main issue in mind
and the main issue is past and prospective
massacre. We have asked Germany to dis
avow the one and give assurances against
the other. So far she has done neither
What the present dispatches from Ger
many foreshadow is a German note setting
forth conditions that American citizens
must comply with to escape slaughter.
Now, the present is not the time to dis
cuss the conditions not yet embodied in
any official document But it is well now
to remember that Germany in making such
a proposal viii asl, US to surrender GER
tain rights which under all international
custom and usage are incontestable. She
is conceding nothing, offering nothing. She
r is making her own terms at the expense
of our own rights as American citizens, as
citizens Of the world
If Germany had in advance of the Lusi-
tania incident asked the United States to
restrain its nationals from travelling upon
ammunition ships, if she had asked us to
use our police power to prevent ammuni-
ton ships sailing from American ports
from carrying passengers, there would
have been a very considerable public senti-
ment in favor of granting her request.
But even then it would have been purely
and simply a question Of giving up rights
that were undeniabe.
Germany chose to try murder first. She
elected TO attempt by drowning American
women and children to persuade Ameri-
cans 20 give away their own rights Hay-
ing done this, she is now reversing the
process and attempting to achieve by d.
plomacy what massacre did not win.
1t is for President Wilson and his adj
visers to determine whether American
rights shall be waived surrendered, aban-
doned. He has the confidence Of the coun-
try. and The nrescnt is not the time 70 dis