Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-21
Germany's Great Opportunity

r German diplomacy were not Of an incredi-
bic stupidity, it would not hesitate to meet
the reasonable and just demands Of the United
States in the matter Of the conduct of subma-
rine warfare. BY making concessions honor
able to its countrys civilization and humanity
il would not seriously compromise the effici-
ency of the underwater craft, while it would
still American resentment and transfer great
share of it to Great Britain.
Recent events have shown that submarines
can operate in accordance with accepted rules
of maritime war. They can hail merchant
men, force them to surrender. permit the es-
cape of passengers and crews and then de-
stroy the vessels--a course which has been
recognized, in this struggle. in substantial
compliance with law They can do this, and
have done it-not once, but many times
Departures from this method have been
dictated by the policy of "frightfulness the
propriety and Justice of which will not be
confessed by this country when American
citizens made its victims
BY agreeing to follow the course that has
been followed i'll the last month, say in the
case of the attack on the Orduna Germany
would go far toward rehabilitating herself In
the esteem Of neutral nations and would
maintain peaceful relations with the United
States. At the same time, she would leave
the administration free to pursue the con-
troverSy with Great Britain, without fear of
the suggestion that q more peremptory
policy had been dictated by Germany. or by
the desire to placate German sympathizers
here al home
With Britain the United States has very
serious differences. British defiance OF inter
national law and neutral rights has been as
contemptuous as Germany's, but the two
cases have been radically differcntiat ed by the
circumstances that the British measures have
involved no destruction Of American life.
when steps must be taken either for the
protection of life or for the protection of
property, there can be room for hesitation
or doubt; the first must he safeguarded and
the latter left to more convenient time.
With the quarrel with Germany out of the
way, however, our resentment would be
turned toward London. The cotton States
are clamoring for consideration. They de-
mand the right to ship cotton L, the neutral
countries of Europe without interference from
the British navy. Meat packers OF the West
are in a condition of like indignation Car
goes OF their products have been held up IN
British prize courts with the obvious purpose
OF causing delay as prolonged as possible
| Their trade with Holland and Scandinavia.
10 all lntents and purposes, has been abol-
ished.
Secretary Lansing has informed the Brit
lsh Foreign Office in plain terms that the
| United States will not submit to or acknowl-
edge the validity of PRICE court rulings that
cohtraVcnc the plain mandate of interna tiona
| law Altogether, there is material for an
old-tine controversy with Great Britain if
| II were not overshadowed by the more serious
/ trouble with Germany Germany can remove
| the shield She intcrposes at any time she will
But. of course, she will not TIE one
thing that has matched in this great war the
military skill and efficiency Of German armies
| has been the folly OF German diplomacy Up
| 10 TINS moment il has overlo lied scarce one
OCCASION TO hetray its native ineptitude. 1t
! would be too much TO expect that il should
| overlook the opportunity with which il is now
| confronted