New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-15
Thinking Straight.


paper in this country that would be will
ing to add to the seriousness of the sltua-
ton now existing between the United
States and Germany, the time has come
when it is a matter of duty to recall GER
tain facts and point to certain instances IN
recent history.
Let us start at the beginning. BY
sinking the Lusitania Germany produced
q crisis in the relations between the Ger
man Empire and the American Republic.
There was left to President Wilson no
course but to demand reparation for the
murder. assurances that it would not be
repeated. He did the thing simply and
we'll
What was the consequence? So far Ger
MANY has not admitted responsibility,
promised reparation, given the all-essentlal
guarantee that there shall be no more muir
ders. What she has done has been to send
two notes, utterly unresponsive, irrelevant,
filed with soft words of no bearing upon
the question at hand, but supplying the
basis for that agitation in her favor which
is already unmistakable and began on the
night the news of the Lusitania first
reached America.
Fortunately in examining this situation
we have several admirable examples in re-
cent history. What Germany has under
taken to do in the United States she under
took TO do in England in August of last
wear and in Italy in May of this.
Have Americans forgotten that, at the
moment when the great drive through Bel
GUM was already beginning, when the fut-
ure of Great Britain had been placed in
periI. so successful had the German propa-
ganda been in Great Britain that the Brit
ish Cabinet was divided upon the national
duty. that even after Belgian outrage was
known several members of the British
Cabinet. still dominated by German words,
already denied by frightful deeds, retired
from the Ministry?
Take the case of Italy. For months the
responsible Ministers had been striving to
reach an agreement with Austria and no
agreement was to be had. The situation
was critical, the Triple Alliance had been
repudiated. Salandra and Sonnino, despair
ing of any settlement, had concluded that
war was inevitable and the Italian people
had already disclosed their similar convic-
ton. Then at the final hour GiOlitti, the
tool or the dupe of Germany, was called
from retirement, came TO Rome and sought
TO persuade the King, endeavored to COM
pei Parliament, in which his followers
were the majority, to abandon the national
policy of the Salandra Ministry.
As the British Government stood in the
critical hours of the opening drama Of a
world conflict divided, as Englishmen were
striving to keep Great Britain neutral
while German troops were approaching
Liege, Giolitti was seeking to provoke
Italian discord to overthrow the Salandra
Ministry. In this situation Salandra was
forced TO resign.
In Great Britain and in Italy national
awakening repaired the effects Of a minis
terial and political ineptitude. To the guns
of Liege the voice of the English people
made prompt answer, and the Giolitti con-
spiracy was blown into nothing the mo-
ment the nation perceived the real drift.
Now recall the American situation. In
stead of Morley or Burns, instead of Clio
litti, we have Bryan. At the moment when
the American crisis is most acute the Sec.
rotary of State resigns, proclaims his diff
ference of opinion with the President and
his championship of the German as op-
posed to the national cause. The note OF
the President to Germany about to be sent
falls dead even before it starts over the
wire.
In due course of time Germany answers
not by meeting the Presidents desires, the
national demand, but by document which
ignores the American case, the Lusitania
issue and appeals over the heads of the
President and the Government to the peo-
ple-above all to those whose sympathies
and efforts it can depend upon.
Now note the immediate consequence.
Ridder, in his newspaper, begins to de-
mand that there be an end of zone man
government" opens the attack upon the
President by insinuation and seeks to
muddy all the waters Instead of a clear
issue with Germany over American rights
the whole thing is to be turned into an
internal brOil
The reason is simple. There is only one
thing Mr.. Wilson can do. There is no
area of manGuvre for him. He cannot
produce a solution as the parlor performer
produces a rabbit from a hat. There is
only one conceivable solution outside of the
severance of diplomatic relations. He can
only reiterate his demands that our wrongs
be repaired, our rights defended, reaffirm
our determination to defend them hence
forth. No chief executive can take any
other conrse no man could abandon Amer