New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-16

manv's present cultured aspirations
end 10 Germany's international pres
tlgo.
There has been much speculation A.
90 tho form which possible ohei. OF
COMPROMISE may take II has hceh
suggested that Germany Will promise
10 discontinue submarine warfare O..
merchantmen carrying passengers
passenger 81 FPS cease 20 accent ann,
and ammunition as cargo. Inc 'hl''u
States does not permit passenE'I
trains on Us railroads 20 carry o.
plosives Hence. n is argued, II "ouIo
he easy % extend that prohibition 20
passenger steamers leaving our poi'~
Once IN this field. there IS little Ilmlt
20 the ingenuity Of the compromise
trainers.
Popular Notion Reelected.
The dispatch from Berlin ANNOUNCING
that the "Vossische Xcituug' predicts
a submission Of the differences between
Germany and the United States 10 ar
bitration has attracted some attention
I'm official circles. The "Nosslsche |cl-
tuug' is not government organ Vh
the contrary. il is inclined toward lib-
crali~m and Social Democratic ideas.
But there IS more than a poSslhlIl'y
that Il may reflect notion now popu-
lar i'm Germany The German govern
mcnt may try to get out OF II, duemna
by turning to the remedy which Mr.
BRYAN has long been advocating a
cure-all IN international trouble
Diplomats suggested to-day that me
proposal Of n general arbitration ana
breathing spell" treaty "a GermanE
by Mr.. Bryan before the opening oil the
present European war is apt 70 rise
TO plague the United States m the
present pourrarlers on the subject o.
the torpcdoing Of the Lusitania
Suppose" said ere diplomat IN DIS
cussing the matter tonight. that after
the present negotiations have pro-
crossed little further the German FOR
eign Office should propose TO this coun-
try that the whole question should be
submitted 10 arbitration. in line with
the proposal made by the United states
10 Germany prior 10 the outbreak OF
this war?
Almost a Matter Of Honor.
at is true that Germany never &C
ceptod this breathing spell treaty, but
the United States proposed II 70 her'
and would appear TO be almost IN honor
bound either 10 accept Germany ar
bitration proposal or to admit that the
whole Bryan propaganda for universal
peace is absolute bunk good enough
when there is no real trouble, but I'M
workable when there is any difference
Of opinion serious enough 10 cause
war
From some Of the Bryan treaties
the Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee, taking a saner view OF the sltua-
t;on than the Secretary Of State. elm
mated the clause which would have
made all disputes the subject OF arb
tration. Questions involving national
honor were exempted. But from the
proposal now on file in the German
Foreign Office this exemption Of Qucs-
tions involving national honor was not
made. The proposal includes questions
Of national honor, so that no claim
would avail on the part Of the United
States that the slaughter of American
citizens in the case Of the Gulflight
and the Lusitsnia involved the national
honor Of America. and therefore could
rot be submitted to arbitration.
"The proposal 20 Germany IN the
form of a draft Of treaty reads as
follows: Any differences arising be
tween the government of the United
States and the Imperial Government of
Germany, Of whatever nature. they may
be. etc, etc. must be submitted to a
commission Of arbitration
Time for Passion to Cool
"Now, the underlying idea OF the
treaty as proposed TO Germany was
that It would prevent any hostilitics
until one year had elapsed, IN order TO
give angry passions n chance 70 cool.
Some OF the treaties as drafted even
proposed that no increase in armament
should be made during the year OF de
liberation. That would be extremely
ridiculous just at PRESENT # il had been
adopted in the case of Germany.
"lf Germany presents to the United
States demand that the differences
should be submitted 10 arbitration un-
der this proposal. one of t%o things
will happen. Either the admnistra-
ton will accept the proposal or 1t VIII
admit. virtually. that the ideas under
living the treaties Mr.. Bryan has been
so busy getting signed and ratified are
only intended for unclouded skies, but
should be ignored during rainy
weather.
"If the first alternative should be
accepted and arbitration should be
provided for, what would the Amerl-
can people think of that? 1t would
seem TO me that it would have bear
ing on the next Presidential election
in this country.
"Of course, this government could
accept the arbitration proposal. but
with stipulation that the submarine
blockade of Great Britain should be
suspended until after the arbitration
commission had reached its final con
illusions, which would probably bring
the point at issue right back TO where
IT was before the proposal Of arhitra-
ton was made. But even in that event,
would not the fallacy o. organs peace
propaganda be exposed? The govern
ment would be cXtricated from difli
cult situation only By finding loop
hole by which to escape from arbitra-
ton"