New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-24
Wilson Must Now Begin
ParIeys with Turkey

Washington, Jan. 23.-The report
that Turkey would admi, that one o.
her submarines sank the Persia caused
a sinking OF hearts in administration
circles here tonight. Such an admis-
sion could mean but one thing-thas
Germany had again passed the buck
leaving President Wilson with nothing
but pieces Of paper to show for his
foreign policy.
There has been talk ever since tho
correspondence with Austria began
that this might hsppen-that tho
Kaiser could pass from one ally TO an
other the blame for succeeding atrocl-
ties which violated his pledges IN ths
interests Of the alliance he hesds-ous
such talk has been considered humor'
Gus.
The idea ~ a Turkish submarine
operating successfully, AZ a time when
il is known that Turkey cannot fur
nish engineers 10 run her own RAM
shackle navy, has been held ludlcrous,
It Is doubtful If even those who spg-
gested the idea had any suspicion that
there might be truth IN II; they mere
lv used il 20 show now weak was ina
policy which resulted only in paper
promises that could be eyaded In this
way.
10 confirmation Of the report had
been received here tonight, and nat.
urallv administration officials were not
inclined 10 discuss IL. So far as ca
be learned. 10 allowance for this COZ
tingency has been made by the Pre-
dent in formulating his policy.
still More Parleys?
No action, of course, will be taken
till the government receives proof or
Turkeys admission OF guilt. II tho
Amsterdam dispatch is correct. this
proof should not be long in coming.
This government would then be faced
with the task Of winning another dlplo-
matte victory on exactly the same
points on which two have already been
won from the same powers assuming
that Germany will make the promised
concessions in the Lusitania case.
And this quarrel must be fought with
Il power which can hardly be reached
by notes in a weeks time, which -
notorious a. the most dilatory IN its
diplomacy Of any on earth. and which
has not the best OF regulations either
for sincerity in its dealings or fidelity
70 its promises.
When this victory is won Germany
will still have the Bulgarian flag 20 ~
over her submarines. The adm nlstrs-
tion will have one slight advantage in
dealing with Turkey the Sultan has
been officially notified. a. Austria was
not. Of the views Of America on the OPP
erations Of submarines.
President Wilson, II Is admitted, -
practically powerless in the matter.
While no one doubts that Germany has
actually taken full control OF the al
fairs Of all her allies and is really re-
sponsible for the conduct OF the war IN
all fields, she cannot legally be called
TO account for any action not performed
under her own flag, even when II -
done By her own officers.
Germany's promises bind only Ger
many-she may tell her allies TO break
those promises and they VIII. And no
matter how thoroughly this government
is convinced that this il Just what j,
going on, IL can do nothing but turn
70 the new offender for satisfaction for
the crime
Wrong from Start"
II the question had been handled
differently from the first, many critics
Of the administration declare. the
situation suggested by to-nights report
could have been avoided. They oe.
lieved that II Germanythad been con
yineed that there Was l.lser et drN-