Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-31
Press Declares England Can
not Compromise Naval
Warfare With Germany.
DOUBTS WHETHER U. S.
WILL SERVE AT CATSPAW
Belief Expressed Berlin Will Expect
Solid Compensation for Sub
marine Concessions.

LONDON, August 31.-Germany's sub
marine warfare is again the subject of
editorial comment today as the result
of the publication of the communication
of the British foreign office on Ger
many's prize court decisions, and the
statement contained in Washington dis
patches that German officials have made
1t plain that their government, as soon
as it has relieved the strain of its rela-
lions with the United States. by limit
ing its submarine activities. will ask
the American government. to demand
that Great Britain and her allies cease
interfering with legitimate neutral
commerce, and thus permit the. impor-
tation of food stuffs for the German
civilian population.
Thinks Berlin Seeks Compensations.
That Germany will abandon her sub
marine campaign in order to appease
the United States, and without solid
compensation to be provided at our ex-
pense We do not believe" says the
Times in an editorial. "Nor is 1t likely
that President Wilson will consent to
be used as a Teutonic catspaw. The
mere hint that the German government
medftates such surrender has stirred
the Won Tirpitz press (referring to the
German minister of marine) to furious
protest. 1t could indeed only be car
ried out by a radical displacement of
the present balance Of the military and
political power in the German empire.
Failing such an upheaval, the proba =
bilities are that the Americans will
have occasion to display the largeness
of their self-control and of their emf
nent devotion to peace"
The Times pays tribute to what it
terms the unexpected self-restraint the
Americans have shown and adds:
I'VE do not believe the Americans
have lost any of their national high
spiritedness, or Of their old desire to
make themselves and their flag respect
ed abroad. On the other hand. they
certainly have surprised their friends
in Europe and may even have sur
prised themselves by the quite unpre-
cedented self-restraint and charity with
which they have suffered at Germany
hands equally unprecedented insults
and injuries.
That there is a limit to their fore
bearance we are well aware, but 1t
seems tolerab1y clear that 1t has not
yet been reached. The recent German
assurances given in Washington seem
warfare. To that extent they naturally
inspire hope among a sanguine people
and doubtless the President has accu-
rately interpreted the wishes of his
people in giving Germany every oppor-
tunity to justify her action"
No Party to Compromise.
The Daily Mail in an editorial saws
1t finds it difficult not to sympathize
with DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg, the
German imperial chancellor, in his
efforts to extricate Germany from the
difficulties of the war Office and the
admiralty, but says that even If Presi-
dent Wilson should lend himself to a
compromise. which Is unlikely, Great
Britain could not be a party to It,
The British foreign Office communi-
cation" says the Daily Mail, SHOWS
that Germany has forfeited all right
to protest against our blockade and
Great Britain has no intention of sacri-
flcing her legitimate naval advantage
in order to assist Germany to escape
tees She must settle with the United
States as best she can at her own ex-
pense, not at ours. We will pay no
blackmail."
The Daily Graphic. commenting on
the foreign Office communication. says
that the judgment of the Hamburg
prize court clearly shows the dishon-
esty of the German protest against
British Interference with the freedom
of the seas and may be Commended
to any American who has been deluded
into the belief that Germany is acting
in good faith