The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-05-15
REPLY TO GERMANY.


President Wilson's reply has not been
made public. It is stated at Washing
ton that publicity is held back until the
note is first presented to the foreign
office.
The principal points, however, are
thus outlined, the press dispatches state
l. The United States government
calls attention to the various incidents
in the war zone proclaimed by Germany
around the British Isles; the sinking of
the British liner Falaba, with the loss of
Leon G.. Thresher, an American; the at
tack by German air men on the Amer
lean steamer Gushing, the torpedoing
without warning of the American
steamer Gulfight, flying the Stars and
Stripes, and finally, the torpedoing with
out warning of the Lusitania with it's
loss of more than 1000 lives of non
combatants, among them more than 100
Americans.
2. These acts are declared to be in
defensible under international law. The
United States points out that it never
admitted Germany's right to do them,
and warned the imperial government
that it would be held to a "strict ac-
countability" for attacks on American
vessels or lives. A strict accounting,
therefore, is now asked from Germany
3. The usual financial reparation will
be sought, although Germany is in effect
reminded that no reparation can restore
the lives of those sacrificed in the sink
ing of the Lusitania and other ships.
4. Expressions of great regret may
comply with the legal precedents, but
they are valueless unless accompanied
by cessation of the practices endanger-
ing lives of noncombatants.
S. The right of neutrals to travel any
point of the high seas on neutral or
belligerent merchantmen is asserted.
6. In the name of humanity and inter-
national law, the United States demands
a guarantee that these rights will be
respected, and that there be no repeti-
tion of the attacks on merchantmen car
rying noncombatants.
Z. The giving of warnings to the
American public without officially COM
municating them to the United States
government is commented on in connec-
tion with the German embassy's printed
advertisement before the sailing of the
Lusitania, but irrespective of the failure
to advise the American government of
Germany's purpose, the point is made
that notice of an intention to do an un-
lawful act neither justified nor legalized
it.
8. The suggestion is conveyed that the
German government, of course, could
not have intended to destroy innocent
lives, and that consequently the German
submarine commanders must have mis-
understood their instructions. The
American government indicates it's hope
that this will be found to be true, and
cessation of the unlawful practices there
by will result.
9. In conclusion, Germanys .atten
tion is called to the earnestness of the
government and people Of the United
States in this situation. 1t is made
plain that the United States will leave
nothing undone either in diplomatic rep
resentation or other action to obtain
compliance by Germany to the request
made.
MAY CALL CONGRESS.
President Wilson cannot answer a
possible declaration of war by Germany
with a declaration of war. Congress
alone has this power.
The president has inserted no time
limit for reply. 1t is this alone which
fails to give the note the technical char
acter of an ultimatum.
Events may follow swiftly.
It may be necessary to call an extra
session of Congress within few days.
JINGOISM.
A jingo is defined by Webster as a
statesman who pursues, or who favors,
an aggressive, domineering policy in
foreign affairs.
According to this definition, ex-presi-
dent Roosevelt is a jingo of the jingoes.
Just how far politics enters into the
wide divergence between President Will
son and Colonel Roosevelt in the policy