New-York tribune., 1915-09-10
Making a Vague Pledge Vaguer.

The text Of the Arabic note which
Berlin has cabed makes Germany's recent
vague assurances TO our government con-
gderablv vaguer. The country hailed
with satisfaction the pledge contained IN
Count Won Bernstorff's letter of September
to Secretary Lansing, not because 1t met
American demands explicitly or fully, but
because it seemed to denote willingness
On Germany's part TO accept IN prlnclple
American contentious as to the limitations
which must be put on submarine warfare.
Count Won Bernstorff wrote Liners
will not be sunk by our submarines with
out warning and without safety Of the
lives of non-combatants, provided that the
liners do not try TO escape or offer resist
ance" That was only a partial indorse-
ment of the theory set forth in the Ameri-
can note of February 10 and in the Lusl-
tania notes.
President Wilson had insisted that not
liners alone. but all unarmed enemy mer-
rnantmen on which American citizens
might take passage shall be exempt from
attack except under existing rules OF war
fare at sea- The public has been willing
10 accept Germany's recent incomplete as
surances as evidence that she intended to
change her submarine policy so as to make
il comply with international law and
humane practice. Our people saw hope
fully in the German promise the fore
runner Of a completer adjustment, which
should put an end TO wanton slaughter OF
neutraly and non-combatants on the high
seas.
Evidently we were too optimistic. The
position taken in the Arabic note indi-
Gates that Count Won Bernstorf's pledge
is not 70 he made broader and clearer. On
the contrary, it is to be made narrower
and more obscure. If it is to be left to
the commander Of each German submarine
10 excuse himself for torpedoing mer-
,hantman without warning, on the plea
Of self-defence, the Won Bernstorf guaran-
tee is whitfield down TO a pale and in
effectual abstraction.
Nothing is more inherently improbable
tnan the assumption that a big liner like
the Arabic. carrying hundreds of non
combatarts and valuable cargo, would
take the foolish and desperate risk Of try
ing 10 run down a submarine attacking
another craft some miles away. Yet the
new German note transmits an eXplana-
tion from the submarine commander who
sank the Arabic which imputes suspi-
ciously aggressive manGuvres to the liner
and pictures her as the attacker instead of
the attacked.
The extravaganza Of this excuse need
not be insisted upon. The point is that
II every submarine commander is allowed
10 interpret for himself the conditions
under which liner is 10 be torpedoed
without warning and without safety of
the lives Of non-combatants," Count Won
Bernstorff's communication 10 Secretary
Lansing becomes hollow mockery. II
ye1s the United States no guarantee
,.ssth having against occurrences Of the
Iusitania and Arabic outrages.
What is needed is a clear, full. indisput-
able Interpretation of the vague promise of
September /. How far is Germany really
prepared to go in accepting the principle
Of neutral rights as laid down in this gov
ernment's notes? To what extent will she
forego submarine warfare which is in con
travention of international law?
Until these points are cleared up il will
be premature 10 congratulate ourselves Oh