The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-13
PRESS ON THE NOTE

New YORK TimeS-The reply to Ger
many's note is the appeal of nation
of the twentieth century TO nation
that has reverted to the principles and
| practices of the thirteenth.
Had these demands come from, one
of the belligerent powers now in arms
against her. Germany might be little
| disposed to compliance. Coming from
| the chief of the neutral nations, ex-
pressed In terms of entire friendship,
most courteous in form. and insisting
only upon what is right and reason
able, just and humane. Germany, we
are persuaded. will not withhold the
assurances we ask.
The note makes the path of complt~
ance not sleeper. but easier for Ger
many. No new demand is made, there
Is none to make, for the note of May
10 was comprehensive.
The Baltimore American--If the
people of the United States, We're in
sistent upon the issues between the
! United States and Germany being set
forth in vigorous language and with
direct insistenee upon the satisfaction
asked they Will be disappointed In the
note that the President has sent 10
Germany.
The note has little of aggression, II
is mildly reproving and expostulatory
to a degree. 1t is apparent that the
pacificists have had their influence
upon the President Tht' issues have
in fact petered down to routine diplo-
matte representation.
The German reply to the Frye note
indicates that Germany intends to
sink any American ship according 10
It's oN II Judgment. and settle questions
that arise according 10 its own rulings.
The Baltimore Sun--The Presidents
second note to Germany on the Lus-
itania affair is exactly what might
have been expected from Woodrow
Wilson and not at all what the loud
ilamentation Of Mr.. Bryan led some to
lapprehend.
The Boston Herald-Thc millions OF
Americans who will carefully READ this
morning the second note of President
Wilson to Germany will look in vain
for the belicose tone, or the threat
of severinE relations which the sem
sational resignation of Secretary Bryan
has led them to think the note would
contain.
The Chattanooga Times-The public
will wonder where MIR. Bryan found
anything to Justify his fear of war
or wherein any paragraph or sngges-
ton in the note not in the first one
is calculated to wretch his heart, to
which he declares the prevention of
war" is nearest"
This second message Is simply
reaffirmation of the trst--a notice to
the Imperial Government that this
Government does not recede from it's
position.
There Is nothing in this note that
will challenge Germany to declare
war.
New York WorId-President Will
sons eply to the German note could
hardly have been made more moderate
and restrained without surrenderins
the American contention in this con-
troversy.
The New York Sumo magnifying
lens at hand is powerful enough TO
enaNle us to discover in the text OF
our Governments third note TO Ger
MANY on her unlawful submarine
practices--the note which Secretary
Bryan resigned rather than sien-one
verb of menace, one noun of buster.
one adjective of prOyocation, one adj
verb of premature hostility, even
semicOlon or comma 1ustlfylnE tne
eminent cutters attitude toward the
document.
The present note dictated by Presi-
dent Wilson and signed by the Sec
rotary of State ad interim leaves Mr..
Bryan in a position as foolish and
harmless for evil as it is possible to
conceive in the case Of a statesman of
serious pretensions before the eyes Of
the world.
The New York Tribune-Judged in
connection with the events of the last
few days and measured by the anti
cipatious of a new birth OF firmness
and vigor at Washington. which they
excited. the new note to Germany viii
prove a disappointment.
Judged even apart from those
events and expectations. and COM
pairing it on its INTRINSIC merits with
the notes of February 10 and May lS,
it must appear weakand inconclusive.
The first and strongest impression
which the public will get from the
note IL that it does not clear up at
all the mystery of Mr.. Bryans resig-
nation.