The Washington herald., 1915-07-24
German Submarines Must Answer.


If it be true that diplomacy the civilized world
over recognizes deliberately unfriendly act OF
one nation against another as deliberately hostile
act, and that diplomacys definition of deliber-
ately hostile act is an act of war; and if it be
further presumed that the government at Berlin
will accord diplomacy's recognition to the term
deliberately unfriendly," then the government of
the United States, through President Wilson and
Secretary Lansing, has finally placed before Ger
many the choice of peace. 1t is possible
though to take slightly milder view of the out
come of the note delivered yesterday by Ambas-
sador Gerard and that is that this government
may content itself with responding to any possible
deliberately unfriendly' act by severance OF
diplomatic relations with Germany. This, if moth
ing else must inevitably take place in the event
that Germany's choice is the hostile one. That
actual war might quickly come of the tense situa-
ton thus created there can be no doubt. So the
future rests with Germany. This final note of
ours calls for no answer except from Germany s
submarines International law and the laws of
humanity and civilization must be observed on the
seas or Germany and the United States become
foes.
The sinking of a merchantmen and the killing
of Americans in August would in itself be no
more an act of war than similar crime commit
and the murder of lis Americans in fact and
reality an act of The difference is that
Germany has now been warned-if we cor
rectly informed OF the meaning Of the language
of diplomacy-that this nation henccforth will
regard as an act of war the murder of Ameri-
cans travelling in the exercise of their rights on
peaceful errands in noncombatant vessels. There
is room for no further parey. Germany must
weigh the consequences and decide as Washing
ton has weighed them and decided.
All that precedes the very last sentence in this
governments communication is mere polite dplo-
macy yet so keen that it overmatches that of the
Germans. The regret that we have found the Ger
man note of July very unsatisfactory" is fol-
lowed by an expression of satisfaction that the
Imperial German Government recognizes without
reservation the validity of the principles insisted on
in the several communications which this govern
ment has addressed to the Imperial German Gov
eminent with regard to its announcement of
war zone and the use of submarines against mer
chant1nen on the high seas-the principle that the
high seas are free that the character and cargo of
a merchantmen must first be ascertained before
she can lawfully be seized destroyed, and that
the lives of noncombatants may in no case be put
in jeopardy unless the vessel resists seeks to
escape after being summoned to submit to exani-
nation. Such recognition by Germany, II IS care
fully explained to the Berlin diplomatists, pro-
claimed by their confession that inhuman
methods of submarine warfare were adopted in
retaliation against Great Britain because of her in
reference with commerce; and "a belligercnt act
OF retaliation is per act beyond the law,
and the defense of an act as retaliatory is an ad
mission that it is illegal" This is diplomatic
stroke that must surprise and confound our
clumsy correspondents in the Berlin foreign Office.
The rest of our note quite cleverly undermines
the German position and reiteratcs and strength
ems our contentious. Its whole sum and
substance. however-bearing in mind all that has
gone before-is contained in the concluding
sentence.
What comes next Germany will decide the
high seas. She may recognize the principles of
humanity and civilization, which is all we contend
for and refrain from violating them, she may
fire the shot that would make the Sixtyfourth Con-
grcss war Congress at its first meeting in extra
session.