New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-20
Will Bar Raids Off
u. S. and Demand
Humane Conduct
READY TO FIGHT
BLACKLIST RULE
Also Will Insist on Mod
ihcation of Mail
Seizures
fsv Tns Associated Press ]

Washington. Nov. IA portentors
,,d complicated international situation
,ow faces President Wilson. and for
.bo re1. sc,v weeks will engage mis-
attention aud that of his advisers to
.be p-actica! exclusion OF all but the
most urscat Of domestic subjects.
In the last days Of the campaign
Secretary Of State Lansing frequently
smoke Of me necessity OF postponing
,c,ion on the more delicate interna-
,opal questions because the uncer-
,,;ntv Of the outcome of the political
contest had a direct bearing on the
success or failure Of some of the Ad-
ministration policies.
From now on the President expects
20 deal with all foreign questions with
ont embarrassment, and he is receiving
from his advisers a summary Of the
outstanding issues so essential to tax
inc stock Of the basic situation which
must be met now that international re-
lstions have returned TO their place OF
prime Importance.
While it is not evident that there
will be any Fundamental change IN
policv. freedom from fear that any
move at all would be misinterpreted as
inspired by an internal political strug-
gle mas been removed President Will
son and Secretary Lansing feel them
selves able 10 act with single eye to
ibe International situation and their
immediate conferences on the Presi-
dents return to Washington indicate
how pressing they feel the situation
10 be.
Problems Confronting President.
The President must decide how the
United States shall meet the German
submarine situstion on the one hand
md the Entente Allied trade restrie-
,ions on the other; whether the re-
ial.atory legislation snail be enforced;
whether the traditional theory Of iso--
lston shall be abandoned for concerted
neutral action, and whether the coun-
tfy shall have an aggressive or pas
sive policy toward the peace confer
orce. the war-after-the-war, and the
permanent league 10 enforce peace
which the President has accepted IN
theory. And. during the rest OF the
var. shall Americas attitude be gov
crped by a decided benevolence in the
interpretation of international law ac-
eording 10 its own best interests, or
shall il be strictly legalistic, regardless
Of whom il affects?
Most spectacular and disquietlng OF
The problems is the submarine situa-
ton with Germany. Five critical cases
are pending, one involving loss OF
SIX knericsn lives. two others lnvolv-
Ing American ships Increasingly
serious is the fast-growing conviction
that any kind of general submarine
warfare. even if complying with the
inadequate rules as TO giving warning
and afording some measure OF safety
o. passengers, is intolerable.
Germany is known 10 be building
submarines rapidly, and there is the
possibility of starvation campaign
against England. Its effects would
corcern ali nations. The United
States might find it difficult TO avoid
Complications.
Inc American htlltuuc
The American attitude is fat and
final. No technicslities will be ad-
mitted- Ships must not be sunk with
out warning or without provision for
the safety of passengers facing high
fess or distance from shore.
The armed ship issue undoubtedly
will be advanced by Germany, but will
rot be accepted. Secretary Lansing
:cresaw IL last March, when, without
announcing his reason, be decreed
that merchant vessels could carry
small defensive gun. II that endan-
pcre submarines, tha. is part Of their
weakness. The United States. anxious
ss pacific nation opposed 10 srma-
nent 20 increase the power Of sub
marines, recognizes their shortcom-
jngs. especially in their vulnerability
If surprised and attacked.
The future of the submarine situa-
tioT is felt 10 rest entirely with Ger
many With the American attitude
lnown, the next step must come from
Berlin. Two possibilities are feared
ether that Germany will decide she
can starye England by an undersea
campaign or that she may endeavor
30 involve this country, and thus in
sarc the participation in peace con-
ferences Of generous enemy inclined
toward just peace terms.
BEYOND this. the Lusitania case re-
mains unsettled. Germany has ad-
iniitee liability and offered indemnity.
but me delicate matter of its amount
has not been settled. Attempts made
10 close the issue have been repeat
edly blocked by unexpected new u
boat combinations
bar U-Boat Raids on United States
The rsvageS of the U-53 of New
England were displeaSing TO the gov
eminent, but the incident was viewed
as isolated. IL was said that con-
unuance Of the practice would not be
iImitted. as IT would constitute q
Practical blockade Of American har-
los.
Relations with the Entente Allies are
less clear-cut. less dangerous. but per-
haps more nagging. Ses-power has en-
"oled them, through the blockade, the
fationi3g Of Holland and all Scandi-
nsvia. the prohibition of imports into
this country except under guarantee,
The seizure and censorship of mails and
the imposition Of the blacklist, virtual
iy TO destroy all foreign trade hostile
10 them and divert all American com