Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-12
British and French Papers As.
tonished at Effrontery
of Berlin.
TIMES SAYS PRESIDENT
MUST ACT OR RECEDE
All American Demands Ignored or
Brushed CONTEMPORARY Aside,
Is Foreign Opinion.

United States concerning Germany's
submarine warfare declare that 1t is a
complete negation of everything Presi-
dent Wilson commended for. and con-
veyed in impudent and insulting terms
The Times says:
THE note is q compound Of eva
sion, misstatement and efrontery such
as only Teutonic diplomacy could have
brewed. and is not likely to ease the
tension between the two countries The
assurances twice demanded by the
United States are not even mentioned
The note neither promises nor refuses
financial reparation for the loss OF
American lives and neither agrees
nor declines to furnish assurances that
similar outrages will not be perpetrat-
ed in the culture. The matter is ap-
parently beneath Germany's august
notice.
The solemn representations of the
with the silence Of disdain. The main
issue remains as 1t was. The Germans
nave not attempted to meet it. nor are
they likely to. Their offer of means
whereby the Americans may purchase
immunity on the seas is simply an at
tempt to induce America to connive at
the illegal and inhumane practices OF
the German admiralty.
Must Act Vigorously.
The time is clearly coming when
diplomatic negotiations and remon-
strances must give way to some more
positive method of asserting American
rights, unless. indeed, the President
decides to recede altogether from his
chosen position. On the manner In
which President Wilson and his advis-
n a
very large degree the Judgment of the
world on the effectiveness, or other
wise, of American influence in inter-
national affairs.
The Morning Post finds something
almost comic in this presentation of a
humane power. anxious for the liberty
Of the seas and for the lives OF de-
scendants of John Adams and Benja-
min Franklin, holding the stopwatch
over its submarine atrocities in order
to discover the margin of safety"
The Morning Post points out that
while Germany has destroyed number
less American citizens and much Amer
lean property during the war" the al
lies have killed no American nor sunk
any American ships 1t adds that the
Washington government has been
shown that Germany does not care a
snap of her fingers for American lives.
rights or property.
German Logic.
The Manchester Guardian ends an
editorial as follows:
"Since Germany cannot obey the laws
Of humanity while she uses submarines
to do cruisers work. she contends with
characteristic logic that 1t is right for
her to break them. 1t Is the kind OF
logic which America has given ample
proof that she will not tolerate: and
TO make the United States participate
In German methods by communicating
to Berlin the names and sailing dates
Of ships that may go safe, and thereby
fate, il viii probably convince Presi-
dent Wilson of the folly Of continuing
diplomatic. relations with a govern
ment SO shameless.
Disdainful Irony.
The Daily Telegraph finds the Ger
man offer to license ships insolent and
preposterous.
Berlin" it adds, "proclains its In
tention to drown, whenever possible.
American citizens who have not SUBJ
mitted to the most degrading surren-
der of rights ever demanded Of a neu-
trail nation"
The note. the Daily Telegraph says. in
conclusion, is the climax of q series OF
challenges to the United States, which
to the war is plainly in a more cha
otto state than ever.
"Monument Of Impudence."
PARIS. July 12.-The Paris newspa.
pers yesterday published in full the
text Of the German reply to the Amer
lean note. Such headings as "A Monu-
ment of Impudence" and "A Monument
OF Hypocrisy" express the attitude as
sumed generally toward the reply by
the papers in their editorials.
The Echo de Paris says:
The note marks sensible progress
over the preceding notes; to cynicism
the Germans now add persifage. To
comment seriously on such a morsel
would be to permit ourselves to be
houted by the Germans; to laugh at ii
would perhaps fail in respect toward
the Germans two victims-the Lusi-
tania and the prestige of Presiden,
Wilson"
The Figaro says It IL embarrassed to
able, the impudent cynicism of Ger
man diplomacy or the extraordinary
presumption leading them to believe
tnat the United States would be satis-
Ned with such a reply"
Disdainful Irony.
Under the heading. Tho German re.
re- ~ - = tlSSuC VI QulDDlS0,
the Petit Parisien. after summarizing
President Wilson's note. says:
TO this the reply Of the Berlin cabi.
net seems to be in disdainful irony. /,
brushes aside the doctrfnal viewpotn,
set forth by the President 1t enumer-
ates in terms what might be intended
10 De funny the complaints of the Teu-
{onic admiralty against the Franco
BRUSH blockade. 1t offers America
derisive guarantees and Openly seeks
TO prolong infinitely the negotiation
that II never intended to end
Inc Socialist paper Humanite SAYS:
Inc German reply exceeds anythfns
one might have expected of the blind.
ness of the Berlin cabinet With tran
quill audacity II throws upon the allies
the responsibility Of all the Violation
Of international law of which Germany
has been guilty during the eleven
months.
The GauIois says German diplomac,
remains true TO the system, accusation
without proof.
The Journal asserts that German,
seeks means of exploiting the lib
erty of navigation desired by tn.
Americans"
The Radical publishes tho text of tn.
reply without other comment than thu
heading "A Monument to Hypocrisy"
The Matin expresses indignation a
"A Monument Of Impotence"
Defies Whole World.
ROME. via Paris. July 12-All tn.
Rome papers comment on the German