Evening star., 1915-06-11
NOTES SHOW BRYAN
TOBE INCONSISTENT
Previous German Communica-
tions Stronger in Language
Than Latest.
NOTHING IN REJ0lNDER
LIKELY TO LEAD TO WAR
Students Of Ex-Premiers Act Be-
lieve It Forecasts Intention to
Oppose President in Politics.

+ Composite comment upon the Bryan
resignation and his reasons therefor.
viewed in the light of the Presidents
latest note to Germany and analysts
Of its purport, voices increased depre-
cation of the ex-Secretary's course.
Inconsistency was today added to the
other complaints uttered about his Ill
timed quitting Of his post and joining
the ranks of critics of the admins
tration and of the United States gov
ernment's policy.
Reviewing the language Of the notes
of February 10 and May Is. which Sec
retary Bryan signed. and contrasting g
their terms with the milder, though no
less firm tenor of President Wilson's
note published today. which Mr.. Bryan
refused to sign. the charge of incon-
sistency was inevitably suggested.
Did he swallow a camel and strain
at a gnat?" was the query.
Answer in the Affirmative Immediate
ly centered attention upon the propo-
sition that he had seized upon this as
a pretext to carry out a design long
politics. he is out in the open against
the administration and playing for his
own hand"
Not an Ultimatum.
The opinion here appeared to be gen
eral today that there is nothing in the
Presidents note to warrant Mr.. Bryan's
charge that It is likely to lead to war.
Even lay ana1ysis-and the view Of the
laity is as valuable as that of an indi-
vidual observation-disclosures the note
as being anything but an ultimat tum.
1t did not demand, 1t was contended,
that Germany abandon her subma rine
warfare save in SO far as 1t Is prac
ticed in contravention Of principles OF
humanity, international law and viola
tion Of the rights of Americans a. neu-
trails. It held out an olive branch in
the offer to try to negotiate with Eng
land for amelioration of her stringent
blockading campaign.
The less provocative the note. the
more unstable the ground upon which
Mr. Bryan stood in resigning, was the
tone of the comment today, and the
opinion seemed to be widely held that
| Mr.. Bryan had infinitely less logical
reason for his act at this time.
Reverting to the comparison Of this
| note with the two which had nrevioms-
| ly gone to Berlin bearing his signature
two significant extracts were recalled
| In the note to Germany OF February
10. which Mr.. Bryan signed, was this
clause:
Comparing Notes.
IF such a deplorable situation .bould
arise the imperial German governmen,
can readily appreciate that the govern.
| ment Of the United States would be
constrained to hold the imperial Ger.
| man government to strict accounta
/ bility for such acts of their naval au.
thorities and to take any steps 1t Nigh,
be necessary to safeguard American
lives and property and to secure te
American citizens the full en1oymen,
of their acknowledged rights on tn.
high ssas"
| Again. in the note Of May is. there
occurred this warning: Tho imperial
German government will not expect the
government Of tho United States to
omit any word Or act necessary to the
f! performance Of its sacred duty Of main
tanning the rights Of the United States
| and Its citizens and of safeguarding
their free exercise and enjoyment"
! In today's note the government OF
the United States therefore very ear
/ nestly and very solemnIy renews the
| representations of it's note transmitted
to the imperial German government on
the 18th of May and relies in these
representations on the principles OF
humanity. the universally recognised
II