Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-28
VIEWS OF THE GERMAN PRESS
ON PRESIDENT WILSON'S LETTER
OPPOSING WARNING RESOLUTION

OPPOSING WA
BERLIN, February 27. via London
February 28.-Commenting on Presi-
dent Wilson's letter to Senator stone
the Norddeutsche A1lgemeine Zeitung
says:
The principles laid down in the
German memorandum by no means con-
fiict with international law. for the Sc
cret orders to the British navy, con-
tanned in the memorandum, expressly
instruct armed merchantmen not only
to defend themselves, but also to pro-
coed aggressively. Individual cases
cited prove this order has been carried
out, so that, according to the princi-
Piles of international law. such vessels
cease to be peaceful merchantmen.
Enemies Termed Lawbreakers.
"On the other hand, the course of
our enemies is gross breach of inter-
national law, since they perform with
merchantmen acts of war to which only
warships are entitled.
when President Wilson asserts that
the measures announced against armed
enemy merchantmen contradict assur-
ances expressly given by Germany and
Austria, his words evidently are based
upon a misconception. for those assur-
ances referred to peaceful passenger
vessels. but not to such as are armed
for aggressive action. His misco1cep-
ton evidently is due to the fact Sthaf
the memorandum and the material
which accompanies 1T are not yet in
the hands of the American government,
and therefore have not yet been exam
ined by President Wilson.
Doubts Correctness Of Version.
Germania doubts the correctness OF
the versions of President Wilson's let
ter, which has been cabled here, be-
cause The letter finds ostensible con-
f1ict between Germany's assurances to
Washington and Gernany's memoran-
dunn, whereas it contains no word
about the dishonesty of the British in
solemnly assuring America that mer-
chantmen were armed solely for defen-
siye purposes, while they have issued
secret instructions always to attack
our submarines.
us this fact, which nowhere has been
denied or doubted, a matter of indif-
ference to American honor, SO strongly
emphasized? In that case we must
really doubt the sincerity of these re-
peated assertions of Americas love for
peace. We can and must expect of the
United States that 1t will weigh care
fully. without prejudice, new factor
brought into questions of international
law by England in transcending the
defensive character of armament. If
Washington will do that the govern
ment can reach. In our judgment, no
other conclusion than we have reach
ed"
The Lokal Anzeiger also believes the
PRESIDENTS position Is due to the fact
that he has not yet read fully the Ger
man memorandum and other informa-
pers. however, do not make this al
lowance and discuss his letter in a
grave tone.
As Protector of England"
The Kreuz Zeitung, which captions
the presidents letter. Wilson as the
protector of England cites the Presi-
dents declaration that no nation NAV
change or disregard the principle Of In
ternational law during the course of a
war. Precisely this standpoint" it
says. should have caused Mr. Wilson
to adopt an opposite policy II really
acting from a sense of legality instead
chantmen for aggressive purposes
England most grossly ignores one of the
principles of international law. If the
President willfully shuts his eyes to this
elementary fact he shows thereby that
he is determined to be partisan and
is trying to protect England by all
possible means, perhaps because he
thinks her defeat would be harmful to
American interests. From this we con-
cluds that under Mr. Wilson's presi-
dency we never shall reach an under
standing with America unless we aban-
oon our liberty to wage an energetic
warfare upon England"
The TaGlische Rundschau says the
possibility that President Wilson may
realize that he made a mistake about
his facts. offers him one final, but mar
row, line OF retreat from his "brusque-
ly aggressive position"
Declared Time for Action.
"He may take this path or not" saws
the newspaper. For us at this hour
it is of principal Importance to hear
that the decision to conduct our sub-
marine warfare energetically, and. ac-
cording to the bases of our memoran-
dunn, has not been weakened BY this
new diplomatic by-play, and that the
stipulated date for the beginning of a
more rigorous conduct of the war shall
not be delayed. We have practiced
forbearance ana patience long enough"
The Taglische Rundshau, in its same
edition, publishes an article by Prof.
Dietrich Schaefer of Berlin University
on "England's American policy and the
submarine war in which he discusses
the possibility OF a war between Ger
many and the United States.
Although disclaiming belief In the
probability OF such war, "notwith-
standing England's desire to see it
that such a war would not be as harm
full to Germany as many persons be-