The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-04-04
Only One Course Open.

Unfy One SOurSe Open.
Though the entente allies declined to accept
Secretary Lansing's formal proposal that their
merchant ships be deprived of their defensive
armament, provided Germany agreed not to de-
stroy them without warning, it appears that,
through an understanding with the United States
government the defensive armament of some, if
not ALL of-the merchant ships of England and
France using the ports of this country was re-
moved. Now comes the announcement that in
view of the record of Germanys submarines Since
March I, the date which they were to begin
to sink without warning all armed merchant ships
of enemy nations without warning, rapid de-
Tense guns to be mounted on British and
French merchantmen. That the allies are justified
in adopting such course is indisputable. Since its
renewal Germany's submarine warfare has been
directed exclusively against the helpless merchant
men of enemy and neutral nations alike, and many
lives have been sacrificed and Americans have
been wounded if not killed. In spite of Germanys
declaration that only armed ships would be at
tackled without warning her submarine command
ers have surpassed their former record for ruth
less, reckless brutality.
The allies forced to arm their merchant
men for the protection of the lives of noncom-
batants Americans included, and their right to do
under international laws and customs is un-
questioned; in fact, twice since the war began it
has been formally and specifically recognized by
the United States in communications to the Ger
man government. This government is now con-
fronted with evidence of the complete failure to
accomplish the object sought by the agreement
disarming merchantmen using our ports-the safe
guarding of the lives of noncombatants, including
American passengers and sailors-due to the
duplicity of Germany. The United States has
put itself in the position of placing these nom
combatants at the mercy of their pratical under
sea foes, with horrifying results
The announcement that the allies merchant
men are henceforth to carry rapid-fre guns for
defense is notice to this government that it must
decide whether to absolve the allies from their
agreement and restore to them their full rights
under international law and custom, or to exclude
their defensively armed ships from our ports In
doing it must abrogate its own rules specifying
the character of the armament which it recognizes
as legally defensive, which have been forwarded
to Berlin twice since the war began In Justice
it cannot adopt this latter course; whether it
may do so without abandoning its neutrality is
open to serious question. To forbid the use of our
ports to all but vessels that have been rendered
helpless and easy prey for the German submarines
would obviously be to sacrifice American inter
ests and expose American lives to murderous at
tack.
1t appears, therefore, that there is but one
course open to the government of the United
States, and that is to withdraw its demand that
the allies suspend the exercise of their unoues-
toned right which was based upon faith re-
posed, once again disastrous1y, in German as
surances. The Washington government may not
take formal action until it is in possession of all
the available evidence in the cases of the Sussex
the Manchester Engineer, the Englshman and the
other victims Of piracy furthered by German dplo-
matte trickery, but the American people NAV rest
assured that when it does act, it will not be to
play into the hands of those who have beguiled
into the position of allies in their campaign of
butchery that has not spared even our own citi-
zcns.