The Washington times., 1915-05-12

be stopped. Otherwise the whole fabric
OF international law must collopse. and
brute force will reign instead as the
only rubric among nations.
AND THEN If GERMANY RE.
FUSES TO COME TO TERMSf
The Administration does not want
war. II war is to come, II must be Of
Germany's making.
The note. II is believed. will contain
no threat of war. 1t Is thought, how
ever. that the United States would be
compelled to refuse hereafter to deal
y with Germany as 4 civilised power, and
that the least that will be done will be
ton at Berlin.
Many have argued that this would
virtually constitute an act Of war.
There are precedents, contradicting this
view. But in any event President Will
son Is acting after deliberation and
with frmness." He has weighed all
possibilities. He will not turn back.
May See Anyone.
Will Germany come to terms? Many
Of those who have studied the circular
statement issued by Germany to all
neutral powers regarding mistaken
submarine attacks on neutral commerce
vessels, see Gin 1t q disposition on the
part OF, Germany to depart from her
previous attitude Of arrogant defiance.
For the first time, Germany appears
In this statement to realize that her
course of action has often ignored the
rights of neutrals. 1t would seem to
those who view the statement In this
light th0t Germany Is already begin
ming to fee from the wrath that might
come.
But, as 1t was pointed out today. thit
statement, while sivins assurances that
Germany does not mean wilfully to at
tack neutral vessels flying neutral hags
does not meet the situation made criti.
cal by her warton killing of neutra
citizens on unarned merchant vessels OF
her enemies.
Nor does it justify the series Of ap.
parently deliberate efforts on her part
to haunt the United states and drag this
country into the war. OF this series, II
is believed. the note will speak
Aside from the crisis Of the Lusitania
affair, which. 1t was pointed out today
Is bigger than the concern Of the United
states with the actions OF an Individual
reference. 1t is thought, may be made
ances Of this country against Germany
of the activities of DR.. Bernhard Dern
burg the Kaiser's propagandist In thi:
country.
Irritated By Talk.
Certain 1t is that since the sinking
of the Lusitania with her cargo OF
human freight. this Government hal
viewed with Increasing irritation and
TspuEnance the loud-spoken utterances
OF Dernburg In justification of the deed
His efforts to arouse hyphenated
Americans to a similar indifference
toward the rights of America have
reached a point where. in the Official
view. patience Is no longer q virtue.
Dernburg, 1t is believed, will have tC
90, or keep his tongue.
Following the announcement from the
White House that the note to Germany
was in preparation and that 1t would
be announced as soon as proper tc
publish it. it became known that the
final draft was receiving the close at.
tention Of Counselor Lansing, as vel
as Of the President.
Mr.. Lansing Is busy giving the note
form. The note, as has been the Cas'
in respect to other important com
munications to the European belliser
ents. will be In the language OF tn,
President. Mr.. Lansing Is the author
tty on international law on whom th'
President is relying for advice ant
guidance.
Questioned regarding the note to
day, Mr.. Lansing refused to discus
any phase of II, either its length o
tho scope it would cover.