New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-11


, Washington was even mUre perplexed
than yesterd. as to what had made
Mr.. Bryan resign. II was remarked
that il he could sign the note Of May
13, which told Germany that the United
States could omit no word or act" TO
uphold the rights of American citizens.
J seemed 20 have no csson for re-
fusing to sign this note, which reiter-
ates the same principle in virtually the
SAME language. II was also asserted
that the language of the "st-ict ac-
countability" note of February was
even more drastic than ne two recent
epistles, and this he signed, too.
Much sur. rise was expressed h,
at the comparison by Mr. Bryan Of the
Presidents note to that of Austria to
Serbia, vhict art,d tn present war.
Because If the fact that the language
of the not. was much less drastic than
Mr.. Bry; IS words and actions had led
the public to suppose Mr.. Bryan was
shown tn Lote to-nicht and asked IL
any changes had been made in it. He
was .!.own several paragraphs particu-
larly, anC these he read carefully.
"W,-e any changes made in the note
after you refused TO sign IT, or is IT
now in hat identical form?" he was
asked.
81 have 10 desire to comment on the
note in detail" he responded.
Differences of Opirion.
By some officials tonight the note
was construed as leaving -oom fo- a
further -sussion O. the questions at
issue between the United States and
Germany. This view was not shared
generally, however.
Throughout the note the Presidents
insistence on the principles Of human
ity and ju- lice pre- inmates. He dis
cusses the question OF whether or {
the Lusitania was .rned just sufi-
ciently to assert that Il was an un-
armed passenger ship. He asks ii Ger
many has any proof to the contrary
that il be submitted, and then ne
brushes the whole question OF tie
Lusitania aside with The statement
that this government views such =.
tails as irrelevant to the question OK
the lee. lity of the methods used ~
the German naval officers In sinking
the vessel.
"The sin...Ag of passenger ships"
the President says, involved primer
pies of humanity which throw into the
background any spe-ia' circumstances
Of ietail that may be thought TO affect
the cases; principles which lift It, as
the imperial government will no doubt
be quick 10 recognize and acknowl-
edge, out of the class tf ordinary sub
jects Of diplomatic discussion or OF
international controversy"
No Arbitration Possible.
This language is taken TO mean that
the United States cannot even consider
the submission of a question OF this
kind TO arbitration. Former Secretary
Bryan was willing that this should be
done The President points out that
the torpedoing and sinking Of the Lusi-
tania, without so much as a challenge
or n warning, was unparalleled in mod
ern warfare. He says Cnly actual re-
sistance 20 capture or refusal 70 stop
when ordered to do so could have af-
forded the commander Of the sub
marine any Justification for so much as
putting the lives OF those on board the
ship in jeopardy.
There. is a hint in the Presidents
note that he also believes that Great
Britain is guilty Of violations OF in
ternational law. This Gomez near the
end of the note, in which he says that
he is happy to observe that Germany
is willing 10 accept the good Offices OF.
the United States in an attempt TO
come 10 an understanding with Great
Britain, by which the character ana
conditions OF the war upon the see
may be changed. -.
vratification the Cushing and the 1ut-
light cases. - A..
The President also takes up the
Falaba case, in which Leon Thrashsr.