Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-05-20
BRITISH PRESS
COMMENOS NOTE
TO GET NJ N Y
London Chronicle Thinks Crit.
icism of Won BernstOrff
Will Make His Recall
Necessary.

London, May l6.-The newspapers yester-
day commenting on the American note
hrmness with which the document is
couched.
The Daily News suggests that the Ger
man government may take President
WILSON, irony at its face value ana
declare that the submarine commander
acted in excess Of his orders"
The Daily Express says that Presi-
dent Wilson and Secretary of state Bryan
must have Smiled some" when describ-
ing German influence as always on the
side of justice and humanity
TT is inconceivabe" the newspaper con-
tinues, that Germany will pull down
the skull and cross bones. but II she does
President Wilson will have won great
victory for humanity and the allies. In
the contrary case America may not
actually declare war but all her aid will
be openly and fully put at the disposal
Of Potsdams enemies, and the day Of
deliverance will he materially fastened"
The Daily Chronicle says:
THE blunt language Of the note on
the indiscretions of the German amhaS-
sador to the United states and the fact
that the document was sent direct to
Berlin over his head, SO to speak, will
probably make it Impossible for Count
Won Bcfnstorff to stay in Washington.
Wilhem-Strasse thc German foreign Of
fee is located in this street. will ne hard
put too. to frame a suitable reply to
the demands formulated in this able and
on NJ
must radically change It's methods of
sea warfare or face the prospect Of n
diplomatic rupture with the United
states"
rs COURTEOUS IN FORM
The Times says:
The note both in substance and ex-
preston recalls the best tradition of
American diplomacy. Courteous and even
considerate in form, it can leave Wilhelm
Strasse under no illusions as TO the
state Of American feeling or the deter
mination of the United States govern
ment
THE stand taken by the President is
something more than declaration Of
national policy. Nothing less than the
conscience of humanity makes itself
audible in his measured and incsve
sentences Germany to-day finds herself
clearly confronted with the demand to
abandon her submarine warfare on ship
ping. With that demand we do not for
Ia moment believe she will comply We
do not venture to predict the outcome of
her dispute with the United States, bur
two things may safely be affirmed: One
is that the dispute itself and the posi-
Int in /,
preme moment to the United States. to
whose decision they may safely be en-
trusted the other is, that whatever be
the issue the moral interests of the Uni
ted States and the allies are henceforth
lndissolubly linked
HURLS \ CHALLENGE.
The Daily Graphic says:
The American note is a definite chal-
Ienge and il is difficult TO see how either
country can evade an issue so clearly
stated. 1t remains to be seen whether
Germany will face war with the United
States rather than abandon the practice
Of numbering non combatants and neu-
trails upon the high seas"
The Spectator in discussing the fore
casts of President Wilson'S note to Ger
many before the text OF the document
was available says it believes that Ger
may will not concedc the American de
mands but that on the other hand Presi-
dent Wilson certainly does not want 10
go to war
Let us say here emphaticallY," SAYS
this paper. that the British people have
not the slightest wish that the United
states should enter the war We hope on
the contrary that Mr.. Wilson will be able
to stand apart. In the event OF war, Ger
many could not do much to injure the
Cnied states, While he United States
could not seriously enter the war for
many months
The writer expresses the opinion that
the true explanation of the caution of
porIance for immediate effective action
America is not in a position at present TO
strike Germany. Should she come in, the
ultimate assistance she could render
would indeed be great. for a protracted
war nvalua BILE; but her statesmen know
she could put no considerable body of
troopsin the field of European conflict thi :
summer Except for convoy purposes her
flee, would not greatly add to the prepon-
derance already held by the allied navy,
while diversions of her manufacturers in
supplying munitions and stores for all the
allies to requirements for her own mill
tary and naval forces would damage rath-
er than assist the general situation