The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-11

what Germany has threatened she will
not do. We can. and the Tribune be-
lieves we should. recall Ambassador
Gerard. since further negotiations seem
impossible. But this Is but detail
The real problem Is the action the
United States must take II Germany
again puts into operation the principles
she applied to the Lusitanii and re-
Gffirms In her latest note. is there
any American citizen who can doubt
what that actor must be?
Every patriotic feeling will move
Americans to-day to give to President
Wilson loyal. sympathetic. complete
support. The honor OF the nation is
in his keeping and the making OF the
iuture will be shaped by his decisions.
Since Abraham Lincoln no man has
borne graver responsibility. but this
time he Is sure of the support of a
united country. a nation and people.
Put while waiting patiently and con-
hdently upon his decision. let us not
blind ourselves to the issue nor shrink
| from the eventual!ties.
The Press.
In other words. the Berlin answer is
| deliberate humbug. 1t Ills humbug when
II loudly inveighs-through the greater
|
| the Allies in suppressing the liberty OF
| the seas and SIMULTANEOUSLY lauds the
| yirtuous murders that the Won Tirptz
submarines commit at the instigation Of
| Germany's enemies
| Ii Is humbug when IL proposes that
our Government agree to restrict the
| traffic Of American vessels to Legitimate
shipping" and will guarantee that our
vessels carrying passengers have no
| contraband OH board"
The Berlin answer Is all humbug be-
cause II craftily makes friendly suEges-
| tions for arrangements which II is sure
will not and cannot be accepted. but. at
the same time. carefully refrains from
making one downright refusal OF our
demands which might force these pro-
tracted negotiations Of diplomacy into
the swift action OF war.
The Berlin note is humbug because
Z il means to settle nothing, aiming tC
carry on this discussion perhaps until
! the war itself Is ended. yet voluntarily
refraining from more violations OF ouI
rights and murders of our citizens sc
that we shall have no fresh cause &c
drive us to war.
The staats.Zeit1ns.
II goes without saying that the Ger.
man Government cannot AFFORD to give
assurances which would directly or indi
rectly embody the obligation to discon
tinue the German submarine war againS
British commerce and ammunition trans
port without having ali equivalent in thu
form OF an assurance from England tina
she will simultaneously give up hel
starvation war" against Germany
There need be no further arguments OF
this point
II we demand from Germany tina
American ships in general as well a.
passenger boats of all nationalities II
particular. shall be immune from sub
marine attacks, then We must on thu
other hand agree to find ways and means
to establish a strict separation OF tn
passenger traffic from the transport o
war material for the Allies.
The right OF the free neutral traffic o'
the seas which is being claimed by tn
President seems very plausible in an alb
stract sense. However. practical expert
cnce has demonstrated that this right /
being ignored on all sides. Nevertheless
England takes advantage of this theor!
OF the President in such a way tina
American travellers are lured aboar
British ammunition ships in order thu
to force immunity for the ships and SAT
delivery OF the war supplies.
Good will on both sides can achiev
the desired aims. II the President mani
tests this good will Berlin will readil!
meet him The way to the ultimate pur
pose should not he blocked by technica
hair splitting and stifY theories whicl
have long since been thrown overboar
by all belligerents.