The Washington times., 1915-08-31
NO DICKER IS WANTED


many is willing to make some con-
cessions to this country regarding
submarine warfare provided the
United States Government will in
duce the allies to end their blockade
Of Germany so that food for the
civil population might enter. That
statement of the case is rather too
Grass for American sensibilities; it
suggests that we are going to get
an apology, provided we pay hand
somely for it.
But the language has been modi-
fed, and it is now announced that
Germany is expected to give repara-
tion for past outrages and to prom
Use they shall not be repeated, and
in doing this will express satisfac-
tion that the United States is con-
tending for the freedom Of the seas
and indicate it's expectation that
this country will become the media
tor to bring about the freedom Of
the seas; which means that we shall
induce the allies so to modify their
blockade of Germany that it shall
be no blockade at all. We are as
sured that Germany will be consid-
crate; she will not BADLY announce
that she apologies in consideration
Of our doing these little services for
her, but still she will expect us to
do them!
This is mere effort to sugar
coat a dose that a self-respecting
America would not swallow. Our
discussion with Germany concerns
our grievances against Germany. 1t
does not concern Germany's griev-
ances against the methods and the
annoying effectiveness of the allies
blockade. The United States will
have concern about that blockade
when and to the extent that it
causes trouble to this country, but
we are not going to become Ger
many's attorney in order to earn an
apology as a fee. At least, real
Americans will trust that we may
be spared that humiliating position.
/ The Lusitsnia note of our Gov
ernment, under date Of July 2l, con-
tanned a paragraph which at the
time seemed curiously out of place
in such a communication. 1t said:
The Government Of the United
| States and the imperial government
are contending for the same great
urging the very principles upon
! which the Government Of the United
| States now so solemnly insists. They
are both contending for the free,
contend for that freedom. from
| whatever quarter violated. without
compromise and at any cost. 1t In
the imperial German government at
this time, when cooperation may
accomplish most and this great
common object be most strikingly
| The imperial German government
| expresses the hope that this object
may be In some measure accom-
plished even before the present war
of the United States not only feels
obliged to insist unon it. by whom
! soeyer violated or ignored, In the
protection Of its own citizens. but is
| also deeply interested in seeing 1t
| made practicable between the bel
ligerents themselves. and holds IT.
self ready at any time to act as the
common friend who may be priVi-
legged to suggest way,
Precisely how it could be said that
the two governments were contend
ing for the same object-freedom OF
the seas-when in fact Germany had
flagrantly violated that freedom by
the Lusitania murder, and the
United States, a neutral, was pro-
testing against the act, is not and
never has been apparent to reason
ing people. 1t was manifest then
and it is more so now, that this
language was designed to give the
Berlin government peg on which
to hang excuse for further discus
sion. 1t modified in vital way the
seeming fnality OF our demand or
Germany. 1t gave Germany the
opening of which she has now
dNdlleu HeISei ny ohSIhhe w Ca
change reparation for our espousa'
of her cause as against the allies
blockade.
1t is an impossible condition fol
this country to meet. There is g
difference wide as the world between
a blockade legally and properly con
Quoted and murder on the high seas
The United States made a good dea
of the law and precedent of block
ade. 1t cannot now abandon al
that it espoused in civil war times
oppose all that it then insisted upon
in order to get a disavowal from
Germany. To do that would be a.
ridiculous as to continue writial
notes while Germany continued sub
marining Americans to their death.
Altho' granted his freedom b,
!, New Jerseys alienists, the Empero