New-York tribune., 1916-01-03
is CUP YET FULL?
LONDON ASKS U. 5.
Press DenounCeS Sinking
of Persia as Outrage
of Nations Law.
.SCOFFS AT PLEDGE
GIVEN BY VIENNA
mo Room for Hollow Ex-
plantations TO AmuSe
Washington"

London. Jan. 8.-The London morn
ing papers in editorials on the sinking
Of the Persia denounce the act in
scathing terms. and ask whether the
cup Of Teutonic enormity, as far as
America is concerned, is yet full.
"The Post" says: "We long ago re-
linquished all expectation that neutral
nations would effectually intervene in
these repeated outrages OF interna-
tional law 1t is naturally matter for
their own conscience. but at the same
time IL must be said that their posi-
tion is singularly inconsistent with
their pleadings to the Allied bel
ligerents that they may. be allowed to
trade with the enemy"
THE Timess" editorial, assuming
that it was the Austrians, though it
may possibly have been q German or a
/ Turkish submarine, says: Whatever
flag is stained by this fresh outrage
there is no room for hollow cynical eX-
plantations by which Vienna sought to
amuse Washington. II cannot be pre-
tended that the Persia was torpedoed
in such a gentle fashion that the pas
sengers ought to have been saved but
for the culpable negligence of the
crew, which is the cowardly defence of
the Austrians in the Ancona case. Even
Austrian impudcnce and cyniciSm can
not plead that five minutes is long
enough 10 save hundreds of paSsen-
gers
"The fact that stares all nations in
the face" says "The Telegraph" "is
that four hundred utterly helpless non
combatants were deliberately murdered
in broad daylight by an enemy warship
acting under orders of its government.
BY a singular coincidence the new dis
aster come on the same day as the pub
lication of Austria's AncOna reply 10
America. Each new case makes il more
difficult to avoid the conclusion that
the whole of the enemy's correspond
ence with Washington over these af-
fairs is so much dishonest pleading.
The duty of asserting the claims Of
law and humanity against this murder
policy has been assumed by the United
States government. but il, unfortunate
IY, is Impossible to say lhat w ashlnE-
TONS action has prevented the enemy
from committing as many similar
crimes as he was able or thought de-
sirable to commit.
Meantime, il is obvious that each
repetition of this repulsive barbarity
weakens the possibility of Washington
remaining in friendly relations with
Berlin and Vienna. The interchange
of notes has now passed the point of
farce, and no spirited nation can long
endure that condition of affairs
"The Chronicle" says: an the light
Of this appalling crime President Will
son can measure the value Of the G-sur-
ances received from Germany and Aus
tria. The former never apOlogized for
sinking the Lusitania and Austria has
sent to Washington tardy apology
for sinking the Ancona. its utter in
sincerity being shown by the almost
simultaneous sinking of the Yasaka
Maru. the Vile de la Ciotat and the
Persia. The Central Powers could
scarcely be more open in their con-
tempt for the American government
and one wonders how much longer the
American government and people Will
continue 10 tolerate their attitude"
presumably Americas action will be