Evening journal., 1915-06-12

NO magnitylng lens at nand is pow
erlul enough to enable us to discover
in the text Of our governments third
note to Germany on her unlawful sub
marine practices note which Sec
retary Bryan resigned rather than
sign-one verb of menace, one noun
of bluster, one adjective of provoca-
tion, one adverb of premature hostil-
ity, even a semicolon or comma justi
flying the eminent cutters attitude to-
ward the document.
To consider properly the relation
of the Lansing rejoiner both to the
previous correspondence with Ger
man and to Mr. Bryan's statements"
it is well to remember what Mr.. Bryan
has said or signed.
On February 10, just four months
ago yesterday, Secretary Bryan in
structed Minister Gerard to say GER
tain things to the German Govern
mont In order to emphasize the sig
nifcance of responsible signature we
afiix Mr. Bryan's name TO each para
graph quoted instead Of mentioning il
at the end of the note, as in the copy
which went to Berlin:
"The government of the United
States views these possibilities with
such grave concern that il feels It to
be its privilege, and indeed its duty
under the circumstances, TO request
the Imperial German Government to
consider before action is taken the
critical situation with respect to the
relations between this country and
Germany which might arise were the
German naval forces, in carrying out
the policy foreshadowed In the Ad-
miraltys proclamation, to destroy any
merchant vessel of the United States
or cause the death of American citi-
zens.-Bryan."
"To declare or exercise a right to
attack and destroy any vessel enter
! ing a prescribed area of the high seas
! without first certainly defining its bel.
! ligerent nationality and the contra
band character OF its cargo would bI
an act so unprecedented in naval war
fare that this government is reluctan
to believe that the Imperial Govern
ment of Germany contemplatcs II a.
ible4-Bryan"
"If such deplorable situation
should arise the Imperial Germal
Government can readily appreciat
that the Government OF the Unite
States would be constrained to hOl
the Imperial German Government 4
a strict accountability for such act
of their naval authorities and TO TAX
any steps II might be necessary I
take to safeguard American lives an
property and to secure to America
citizens the full enjoyment OF thei
] Id fult Oh
Bryan"
"The Government Of the Unite
States - expresses the conf
dent hope and expectation that th
Imperial German Government can an
will give assurance that America
citizens and their vessels will not
molested by the naval forces Of Gel
many other than by visit and searcl
though their vessels may be trSvcri
ing the sea area delimited in the pro-
lamation of the German Admiralty
Bryan"
Such was the original statement
the American position. which NJ
Bryan's conscience permitted him
indorse and to which his signatui
gave official standing when II WI
transmitted to Berlin.
The cases of the Falaba. the Gus
ing, the Gulhight, and finally th
Lusitania, accumulated. One mon
ago next Sunday Mr.. Bryan's person
Endorsement and official signature TO
mally attended these additional r
marks
"In view of recent acts of the &c
man authorities in violation of Amer
can rights on the high seas whi'
eliminated IN the torpedoing al
sinking Of the British steamship Lu'
, tania on May z. 1915, by which ov
one hundred American citizens Ia
their lives. II is clearly wise and d
sirable that the Government of q
| United States and the Imperial &C
man Government should come TO
| clear and full understanding as
the grave situation which has resu
ed.-Bryan."
4 "The Government Of the Unit
Z States has been appraised that the 1
perial German Government consid'
. ed themselves 10 be Obliged by the
p traordinary circumstances of
present war and the measures ado
ed by their adversaries in seeking
cut Germany of from all CONNER
r 10 adopt methods of retaliation whit
= 20 much beyond the ordinary metho
+ OF warfare at sea, in the proclan
j. tion Of a war zone from which n
~H a