The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-07-30

Washington.-Then note presented at
the German Foreign Office by Ambas-
sador Gerard, as viewed In Washing.
ton, means that another submarine
attack on American life will result
in a break between Germany and the
United States.
The climax of President Wilson's
warning to Germany in regard to the
rights of Americans comes in the
final sentence Of his note, as follows:
Friendship itself prompts 1t (the
United States Government) to say to
the Imperial Government that repe.
tition by the commanders of German
naval vessels of acts In contravention
of those rights must be regarded by
the Government of the United States,
when they affect American citizens, as
deliberately unfriendly."
But that is not the only expression
through which President Wilson
voices the determination Of himself
and the American people. He notifies
Germany that the United States will
contend for it's rights as a neutral
without compromise and at any
cost"
Practices of the German naval
forces such as have been protested
by this Government, IL persisted in,
will constitute IAN objectionable Of
fence against the sovereignty Of any
neutral nation affected"
An Equal Application.
AS against these severe statements
there is a feature of the note which
is expected to go far toward allaying
the deep anti-American feeling that is
likely to be aroused in Germany. The
Presidents warning that the United
States will contend for American
rights on the high seas without COM
promise and without cost" is made to
apply equally to Great Britain as well
as to Germany. These rights will be
protected from whatever quarter vio-
lated" is the way Mr.. Wilson puts it,
There is no doubt that this will be
regarded both in Germany and in the
United States as a promise on the
part of this Government to deal as
vigorously and insistently with Brit
ish violation Of neutral rights on the
high seas as with those OF Germany.
1t often has been assert ed that could
the German Government and recple be
convinced that the United States Gov
ernment was sincerely trying only to
assert its rights and not to favor the
Allies as against Germany much o; the
resentment caused by the submarine
issue would instantly disappear. This
expression was deliberately written
into the note with this phase in mind.
Another Corcil;story Feature.
There is sslll another feature OF the
note in which the German Govern
ment may fin1 some cause for graft
fication The President in two para
graphs written by his own hand. ad-
verts to the remarks of the German
note Of July about the mutual in
terest of the two Governments in "the
freedom of the seas" and opens the
way 10 Germany 10 prove the sincerity
of her statement that she really de-
sires law to prevail during this war.
Declaring that both Governments
seas, the note invoices the practical
cooperation of the German Govern
ment at this time when cooperation
may accomplish most"
The President not only echoes the
expressed wish Of Germany that this
object may be accomplished during
the present war, but alse asserts that
IL can be attained.
An Interpreted Warning.
The Presidents words are combined
with the assertion OF this Govern
ments determination to protect the
rights of American citizens at all
costs. and in some quarters created
the impression that they were intend
ed to give notice that IL the belliger-
ents themselves did not enter into an
arrangement whereby American rights
would be respected on the high seas
the United States Government would
be inclined to take such measures as