New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-07
T 2. Coudert Thinks Con-
ression Designed to In
yolve Us with Britain.
a,yF CANNOT IN HONOR
ACCEPT AGREEMENT"
c.oss al Assurance That Sub
.,dues Have Orders to Behave
Outside British Waters.

c,-nsny's concession, contained in
latest note, is merely a pretence
- shsm-another step in the long
-, attempts she has made to
- ne into a war with England. This
:. rrsseric r. Coudert'S estimate Of
=, Vs;ser's reply 20 President Will
- ultimatum. The lawyer further
..,.rts that the United States govern
-. cannot. with honor, accept the
,.-n. Of the agreement proposed in
ne German note.
eTbe pretended concession he says,
g., . sham intended to trap us into a
.,-sie, with Great Britain. This is
u. zane that has from the beginning
h,., consistently tried by the German
.,v,rnment. but which our State De-
,.rtment has emphatically repudiated
,,rourhout the correspondence"
Mr.. Coudert then points out that in
Anil Of 1915 the reply to one Of Presi-
s.,. Wilson's notes said in substance
that "the German Imperial Govern
nent would be pleased 10 utilize the
services Of the United States in break
ing down the British blockade"
Bryan's Gentle Rebuke Recalled.
The Secretary Of State. the gentle
Colonel Bryan the lawyer continues,
replied: Your excellency's long ex-
periepce in international affairs will
have suggested TO you that the rela-
tons Of the two governments with one
another cannot wisely be made the
subject Of discussion with a third gov
eminent
"This mild snimadversion upon the
gross improperly of the suggestion
apparently fell upon deaf ears. for the
suggestion has been constantly reiter-
sted through the correspondence until
lis elimination in the note OF yester-
dav. Incidentally. its absurdity is
made manifest by the fact that the sub
marine warfare was announced early
m February. more than a month be
fore the publication and operation OF
the British Orders in Council-constl-
tuting a blockade Of Germany
Mr. Coudert then ridicules the state
ment embodied In the latest note, THE
German submarine forces have had'ln
fact orders 70 conduct the submarine
warfare in accordance with the general
principles Of visit and search and the
destruction Of merchant vessels recog-
rized by international law, the sole ex-
ceptiOn being the conduct of warfare
against enemy trade carried on enemy
freight ships encountered in the war
zone surrounding Great Britain"
Submarine Respect for Law Surprise
"The extraordinarily reassuring
statement" the lawyer comments, that
submarines have been complying with
International law will doubtless sur
Prise all Of those who have taken the
pains TO follow the operations Of sub
marines in their commerce raids since
the beginnings of the war.
"Von Jagow therefore comedies that
this gentle and human method Of war
fare, practised outside the English
Channel and of which so many delight
ful incidents have been found in Med
iterranean waters. shall be put into
execution as regards merchant vessels
both within and without the area de-
clared q naval war zone unless they
attempt 20 escape or offer resistance
"The outmost limits of the present
concession are 70 give the same IN
structions TO submarine commanders
In the British waters as those pos
sessed by the commander Of the yes
sci that sank the Sussex and the other
glorious heroes of submarine warfare
in that zone"
Mr. Coudert then asserts that what
ever the value Of the concession Of
iered by Berlin, il is a concession made
with a qualification. Our acceptance
Of 10 must entail, he says, diplomatic
OF actual strife with Britain over her
blockade Of Germany.
The String Tied to the Concession.
1T will be withdrawn" he remarks,
and Germany will then reserve its
complete liberty of action unless the
government Of the United States will
row demand and insist that the British
government shall forthwith observe
the rules Of international law, unlver"
sally recognized, etc"
Thus, If Uncle Sam deals honestly
with the Kaiser and accepts this So
called concession, he Immediately be-
comes in decency and honor obligated
70 demand q cessation Of the British
blockade, in order that the concession
may remain valid.
1T is, Of course, inconceivable that
me United States, reversing its former
attitude and after, as the President
has said, the toll Of American lives
has mounted into the hundreds will
range itself on the side Of Germany
against France and Great Britain.
The supposed concession must
either be accepted orS~ejected. To
accept IL. is TO accept submarine war
iare generally and 20 obligate ourselves
70 Germany in her contest with Great
Britain over the blockade measure.
Il cannot but sincerely believe that
IN this hour we can trust the President
% do exactly what he said he would
90 In language than which none could
De more emphatic, and vindicate :he
dignity Of the nation at this solemn
-e,.rr