The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-31

promise to compensate for non-contra-
band carrying American vessels
which have been sunk through Ger
many's fault. Neither of these con-
cessions issnew. Both were contained
in previous notes to the State Depart
ment.
The note shows hat Germany
stands committed to her previous offer
TO submit TO The Hague for investiga-
ton cases Of non-contraband carrying
vessels of neutral nations where Ger
many is not satisfied Of her W re-
sponslbility. This offer Of arbitration
in no way affects the Lusitania and
Falaba cases.
The Administration has attuned its
ear to eaten the first expressions Of
public opinion which will indicate the
attitude OF the country toward the
German reply. There will be no off,
cIal intimation of the Administrations
curse until the keynote Of public
opinion has been sounded.
The President and MS advisers will
bNtAIE' W WV nv ~ W.
tween now and the meeting of the
Cabinet next Tuesday morning to
gather the impression of the Amer
lean people on the issues raised by the
German communication.
What the President already has said
TO Germany in his two notes on Ger
man submarine warfare and Ger
many's failure to ',spond to the is
sues presented to her by this Govern
ment have led to the inevitable con-
Clusion here thai: 1t will he exceedingly
difficult for the President to stop
short Of utterly rejecting the German
reply and declaring it wholly unac-
cep;abie to the United States.
In February the President informed
the G. rman Government that it would
he held to "a strict accountability for
the destruction of American life and
property hn the high seas and that
the United States would take such
steps as were necessary to protect
The lives of its citizens in case their
rights we're outraged. Their rights
were outraged in several cases. where
upon the President demanded a dis
avOwal by Germany OF these acts,
roparation for injuries suffered and
guarantees for the future with the
implied demand that German subma-
rine operations as at present conducted
cease altog -ther.
To all this Germany has responded
with little more than bubbles and a
Catechization Of the United States.
May Let Issue slide ny.
There is no question even among
conservative officials that the German
note is most unsatisfactory. Yet II is
n significant fact that in no quarter
In Washington was there TO be found
to-day any certainty of opinion as to
what the Administration Will do about
II. In diplomatic circles. where ii is
held that the German note fails COM
pletely to meet any one of the Presi-
dents demands. there is a deep seated
belief that this Government will let
the issue slip into the i~nnoCuous stage
OF diplomatic correspondence.
This belief. shared also in many
other quarters. is based first on the
opinion that the country itself will
consent to such a course. 1t is partly
due also to the knowledge that the
Cabinet is not united on the issue. the
Secretary II state leading a minority
willing to go almost to any lengths
on principle to avoid danger of a rup-
ture with Germany, another section
favoring the easiest course on the
ground hat the United States does
not want war, and a third section
favoring a strong course in support Of
the Presidents note regardless Of o n
sequences.
Furthermore, the attitude of many
officials recently has been such as to
indicate that the Administration, IL
It thought the country would approve.
would let the submarine issue take
its course through the intricacies OF
diplomatic correspondence. 1t has
been asserted by more than one Off
cial Of high standing in the last few
days that Germany is entitled to ask
for a determination of the facts.
Finally, conversation in official
quarters recently has been notably
lacking in those references to the
broad principles Of humanity and the
duty of the United States to the CIV
iliZed world which characterized the
discussion following the Presidents
note n were So strongly a~pplauded
throughout the world.
All these things have united to Gre
ate "A feeling of great uncertainty here
as to the attitude Of the Administra-
ton toward the German reply.
VIII UrRe strong Action.
II there is doubt what the Admins
tration actually will do in this situation
there is nc uncertainty about the at
titude of tina: element of official Wash.
ington which was most in favor OF the
vigorous course taken by the Presiden,
In his note to Germany. This elemen,
will urge upon the President that he
promptly Inform Germany that its re-
sponse is wholly unacceptable to the
United States in that il ignores this
Governments, demands. Ii will recon-.
mend hat these demands he repeated
and accompanied with the statement
that unless Germany meet the United
States promptly IN the actual issues
involved this Government will act al
once, The action suggested Is the
severance Of diplomatic relations.
In the opinion Of these men tht
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