New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-24

I lIprlnAnN must llOL SltDs lNoAhi"bA9
there will be a German answer in writ
ing to this note; but the answer that
the people of this country will await
/ will be spoken in the waters of the war
zone about the British Isle.
Pittsburgh Dispatch.
The responsibility is sauarely put up
t. Germany that if the wishes of this
| country. which are held TO be in strict
| harmony with international law and
/ with the principles of humanity, are
| disregarded hereafter the relations be-
tween the two countries will likely lose
/ their amiability.
Memphis COmmercial-Appeal.
The note is clear, definite and in en-
tire keeping with the dignity of the
I Office of the President Of the United
/ States. 1t is an ultlmatum, not III
/ terms threatening war, but 1t is more
( forceful, because along with the uiu-
matum goes calm statement that TINS
/ government will at any cost enforce
/ the principle for which it contends
We doubt that any other living Amerl-
can could have composed document
so clear, so forceful and at the same
time so calm in tone as the message
which Mr.. Wilson has sent to the I'M
perial German government. II Is not
threat. but il is a solemn affirmation
that this country will at all costs up
hold the principles Of freedom on the
high seas for which it contends.
Boston Herald.
In substance. the Presidents theory
is whatever your WORDS may
be, it is by your acts that we snail
Judge you He does not purpose TO go
to war over the Lusitania. The count
/ is entered against Germany IN our
| hooks. and there it will remain until
| cleared. But it is on what hereafter
/ happens that the outcome will depend.
/ From the logic of the Presidents note
/ there can be no escape. From the re-
/ sponsibilities which it imposes the
American people exhibit no desire TO
Tetract.
Boston Globe.
Our latest protest thrums the same
chord as did the other two documents
with the exception of one note. Inc
exception is the withdrawal OF our
claimNthat Germany cannot conduct
submarine blockade and at the same
time observe international law. We
now say that she can. Events OF the
last TWO nOnLHS nave pIOHtu Ih4o'
Taken as a whole, the note repre-
sents moderate American opinion. We
serve notice that we still hold an &C
count against Germany. Her refusal
to pay does not cancel the bill. 1t still
stands on the books. Like the French
spoliation and the Alabama claims, this
account may stand for a number of
years, but there it will remain until it
is paid.
Boston Post.
The note is so clear, so straightfor-
ward, so lacking in the customary
frills of diplomatic language that there
seems no longer any possibility OF an
evasive or argumentative reply. With
great force and directness it restate,,
in tone of fnality, the position of
the United States as to the rights of
its citizens under international law.
Thus the question rests. The bur-
den Of the offence is on Germany. She
may remain friendly with the United
States, in spite of all that she has
done. if she chooses. If she does not
choose, but prefers TO continue to vio-
late international law-and humanity's
law as well-the breach of friendly
relations with the United States will
be of her own making. She cannot say
that the issue has not been made
clear.
In the most solemn sense, it is now
up to Germany.
New Orleans Times icayune.
No American administration in
sympathy with the nations history,
policy and traditions could do less.
And none could have done better or
more tactfully what it was necessary
to do. Months Of experience with sub
marine warfare have proved that Ger
many may comply with the American
request, with the law of nations, with
the principles of humanity and with
Z her own expressions of principle and
. conviction without sacrifice of her sub
marine weapons or injury to her cause
as a belligerent
The fateful decision rests with Ber-
lin, not with Washington. For the
American government has taken with
the cordial approval and whole-hearted
support of the American people, as we
believe, the only position possible to
d republic which has stood for more
than century IN support and defence
of the principles in this case re-af-
| firmed.
Indianapolis Star
If these relentless enemies would
prefer self preservation without our
good will TO extinction with il, they
will have to go their way and we ours.
/ The best we could hope for in such
case would be to preserve an impartial
/ attitude between the two, so that
neither German stubbornness nor Brit
/ ish guile might entangle us in the
/ purely European controversy There
/ is every reason TO believe that the
| Presidents courage and sagacity will
stay with him as il has done hitherto.
ST. Louis Republic.
One hundred and twenty-eight years
of American history and tradition
speak in President Wilson's vindica-
ton of the freedom of the high seas,
his clear exposition of the rights of
neutrals in time of war, his warm
recognition of the measure in which
Germany and the United States occupy
common ground, his cordial desire, ITO
act as the common friend" of warning
nations, and most of all his commit
ment Of the nation 70 the defence OF
these rights From whatever quarter
violated, without compromise and at
any cost.
In this note speak at once the will,
the thoughts, the heart OF America.
Come what may, the Nation Will stand