Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-12

Read strictly, the news considers the
German promise virtually puts the sub
marine out of action because If COM
PEELED TO give warning of an attack the
submarine runs the risk of disaster and
cannot take the crew or passengers of
its victim on board or convoy prize
10 a German port because there is no
sea where il is safe to convoy cap
tured vessel.
The critical part of President Will
sons note, however" says the news, "is
the refusal of the condition. The presi-
dent leaves Germany with the naked
alternative of surrendering the sub
marine as an effective weapon or COM
ing into collision with the United States.
The firm, even abrupt, shutting off of
this discussion makes further commu-
nication from Germany thereon almost
impossible 1t would be to knock at a
door already bolted and barred.
Thus Germany at last will be com
PEELED to make a choice and the choice
will doubtless be determined by the
magnitude of the submarine power she
is able to launch against Great Britain
and the prospec. of thus putting Great
Britain out of action before the inter-
yention of the United States could have
any serious influence on the course OF
the war.
There is the further consideration
that Germany may decide to resume her
submarine campaign and, If it fails, use
the addition Of the United States to the
ranks of her enemies as a reason for
confessing defeat before a world in
arms against her. At the best this pol
icy would give her a startling success.
AT the worst it would give her an ex-
cuse for asking for the peace she ur-
gently needs"
mote HIGHLY SKILLFUL."
The Morning Post says:
The note is highly skillful example
of diplomatic art. The German note OF
May 4 was rather like floating mine.
To come into sharp contact with one
of its several projecting horns might
have resulted in a disagreeable shock but
the American government has handsome
ly hauled the thing on deck where 1t
now reposes innocuous.
Had President Wilson before pro-
ceeding to discuss the German proposals
demanded that the conditions attached
to them should be Withdrawn he would
have created a new difficulty. But the
president with infinite tact accepts the
proposals and takes for granted that
conditions are not really attached to
them at all"
The Daily Chronicle thinks sit diff
ficult to regard the note as anything
hut an important climb down by the
limited States because in the opinion
OF the Chronicle, the note tacitly ad-
mits the German conditions that mer-
chantmen must not attempt TO escape,
must not offer armed resistance ana
must not be armed
Unless President Wilson has received
prfvate assurances much more far
reaching than the sham promises of the
German note" says the Chronicle. 1T
is not clear what results are to be look
ad for from the German promise. Every
time Germany sinks a merchantmen
without warning she can now defend
her action by alleging either that the
ship was armed or offered resistance or
tried TO escape.
American protests so far have not
made the slightest difference to the sub
marine war. but the British navy has
and will continue to do So"
Emperor William personally sent a
letter to President Wilson," says the
Daily Telegraph. Gin which, appealing
70 him as the greatest neutral authori-
~. he expatiated on the necessity of
urging the western powers not to pro-
long indefinitely what seems to him their
useless efforts Of revenge"
The Daily Telegraph adds that En-
peror Williams diplomacy has another
aim, namely. ito make oEce more Presi-
dent Wilson realize the glorious and by
no means unuseful part which is in
store for him if he can wait and be
patient long enough to allow the Ger
man schemes to mature"