South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-13
PRO-GERSIANISM AND ISPEACH
MENT FOR THE PRESIDENT.

anCe or Germany note ms lmpeach-
ment might be demanded. We had
concluded 10 follow the example Of
the late Col. william RockhiH Nelson.
of the Kansas City Star, and let the
president speak first.
II was a standing policy of Col
Nelson. not TO presume to advise the
government in matters of foreign pol
icy. admitting only a miniature ac-
quaintance in matters Of foreign pol
icy but after a policy had been estab-
lished. then to support il as against
al outside influences. Anticipating
that Pres't Wilson's policy is quite
well established: shat ne will not fall
in with Germany's note. and that any
attempt OF the pro- German element in
the United States 10 effect his i'm
parchment viii meet with a very dis
tinctively American rebuff. we think
it quite unnecessary 10 wait longer
Minister Won Jagow's note, instead
of evidencing a friendIiness or fair
ness, or any disposition on the part Of
the German imperial government TO
improve. such as the German-Ameri-
can press interprets it to be; appears
10 US a most incredible document Of
evasion. and of insolence unconcealed.
save by phases of mechanical courtesy.
The one ching which aroused this
nation TO a fever heat. and the prin-
cipIe Of which is regarded as far more
vital than any controversy over mere
property rights. was the sinking of the
Lusitania, without warning. and the
killing Of 400 people. more than 100
Of them American citizens. II was
with that in mind particularly that
Pres't Wilson wrote. n his note of
May Is:
1t (the United States govern
ment) confidently expects that
the imperial German government
will disavOw the acts of which
the United States complains. that
they will make reparatiOn, So far
reparatiOn is possible, for in
juries which are without measure,
and that they will take immediate
steps 10 prevent the recurrence Of
anything so obviously subsersive
Of the principles OF warfare.
The first German reply, making only
the untrue comment that the Lusi-
tania was armed. ignored that de-
mand. and our government renewed it
very earnestly and solemnly" on June
To-
Now. Germany defends that act Of
assassination on the clubbing and ir-
relevant ground that Great Britain
has armed some of her merchantmen
and encouraged them TO defend them
selves against submarines, and main
tains that the submarine crew was
justified in killing 1.4O0 noncombat-
ants. since 10 give them a chance to
escape might have endangered the
score or so of Germans in the ''U'
boat.
She adds the hooking comment that
the Lusitania really shouldn't have
sunk so quickly. anyway, and makes
the absurd and pettfogging insinua-
ton that IL was the cartridges on
board that sent her TO the bottom,
rather than the German torpedo. She
reaches a climax in the astonishing
declaration that the Lusitania case
shows Ito what jeopardizing of human
lives the manner Of conducting war
employed by our a, rsaries leads"
II is impossible that the United
States can be satisfied with such heart
less and lawless evasion.
When it comes 10 other matters
involved. the German position is just
as amazing. Pres't Wilson has de-
clared Internationally that Americans
Will not surrender their inalienable
right to sail the seas. on any peaceful
vessels. whether under neutral or bel
lgerent flags. Germany refuses 10 ad-
NIT this right. which has never before
been questioned, and refuses TO allow
Americans 20 cross the Atlantic except
on neutral ships. The plain inference
is that she reserves the right TO de-
stroy other passenger ships flying en-
envy flags. as she destroyed the i-nsi-
tania. without warning.
II we want 10 cross the Ltlaptic.
she informs us. we must do So Ia our
own ships. Doubtless that would be
a wise thing 10 do; but we are free
agents in this matter. She is willing
10 have Us operate reasonable mum
Der" Of passenger ships. and will even
allow US 10 buy some from her en-
emies-four 10 be eXact-if we can't
get them in any other way. Those
passenger ships. she warns Us. must
carry no contraband.
AS for American freighters that
carry no passengers, they will not be
hindered in the prosecution OF legiti-
mate shipping In German diplo-
matte phraseology. Legitimate" means
'non-contrahand" although neutral
ships are legally safe no matter what
the cargoes. she expects our govern
ment 10 give her assurances, in all
cases that there are no contraband
goods on board
IN other words, Germany pretends
that she owns the sea. and that Amer
leans have no right 10 sail IL except by
her sufferance She refuses 90 obey
international law. She puts on us the
Il. L.