The Washington times., 1915-12-13
THIS SOUNDS LIKE BUSINESS I

The American note to Austria on
the Ancona case would be more con-
vincing if the American public did
not have in mind the vigor of notes
that in the past have been addressed
to Germany concerning her subma- ,
rine warfare. The Lusitania COM
munications seemed to convey as
surance of vigorous action, and that
expectation has been disappointed.
The weakest feature of the Ancona
note, indeed, is in these words:
"The Austro-Hungarian govern
ment has been advised, through the
correspondence which has passed be-
tween the United States and Ger
many, of the attitude of the United
States as to the use of submarines
in attacking vessels of commerce,
AND THE ACQUIESCENCE OF
GERMANY IN THAT ATTI-
TUDE >"
The capitals are our own. They
carry the assumption that Germany
has complied with Washington's de-
mands, to Washington's satisfac-
ton; and that Washington asks
Austria to do as we'll. The manner
of Germany's compliance with those
demands, in view of subsequent
happenings, as in the Arabic case,
and in view of the German refusal
to disavow the Lusitania outrage,
does not emphasize the conviction
that Austria will regard the present
communication as so meaningful as
it might otherwise seem.
Nevertheless. the Ancona note is
the most pointed that our Govern
ment has written about sea warfare.
1t uses terms that in diplomacy are
construed to be final: it says that
"the Government of the United
States EXPECTS that the Austro-
Hungarian government" will "ac-
cede to it's demands PROMPTLY"
and it "DEMANDS" reputation of
the act and punishment of the sub
marine commander. These are terms
which leave no room for conversa-
tional acrobatics on either side.
There is one expansion of the
American demands in the interest of
humanity which will be gratifying
to all humanity. The United States
Government says that it's informa-
ton is that the Ancona tried to es-
cape, but being overhauled, stopped.
The attempt to escape is not ac-
cepted as justification of her de-
struction in manner that caused
loss of innocent and n-combatant
lives. Former expressions of our
Government have left room for the
assumption that possibly a vessel
that attempted to escape might be
summarily sent to the bottom. 1t is
good to know that the State De.
partment is now determined to make
it's shumanitarianism practical and con-
sistent. 1t is in human nature that
the attempt to escape will be made
when there is anything like chance
There never before was an attempt
to enforce law of war under which
attempt to escape, on the open roaC
, of the high seas, was a warrant fol
murder. The United States would
do less than it's duty to neutrals, tt
humanity, to common decency, if i
did not insist on wider, rather thar
; narrower, application of humane
ideals. The Ancona note makes tina
.. wider application, and it should b'
insisted upon to the last degree ant
the ultimate measure. Civilization
chances to have made America, at
critical point, it's trustee. That trus
teeship must be discharged in
D manner creditable to the highes
pretensions of this nation.
, There is another regard, in whicl
the note to Austria marks a wide
e American view. Nowhere in MI
n Lansing's note is there allusion t
n the fact that the Ancona was a
8 Italian ship. The fact that she be
: longed to a nation with which Aus
: tria is at war is thus passed to tn
d background of non-essentials, in tn
e American opinion. The big, out
: standing fact in the American vie'
as now formulated is that she wa
h ship of commerce, on the hig
l. seas that belong to the whole worl'
r not to any nation; that she carrie
l. non -combatants. The United State
+ makes it's demands in the cause {
N freedom and safety at sea, ratht
lie than, primarily, in the interest {
10 American life at sea. 1t is large
IN view. There is only incidental re
h erence to the loss of American live
the emphasis is placed on America
in horror at murder, rather than
e. murder of Americans.
at Prompt and satisfactory COMP
IN ance by Austria with the America