Evening journal., 1916-01-06
As Others See Us
(From the New York Tribune)

We reprint below in translation an
article by Joseph Relnach, the French
statesman and publicist. which ap-
pears in lie Figaro" OF December 10.
II is entitled THE Epistle to the Aus
trians" and shows what impression
President Wilson's championship of
neutral rights and of humanity Is
making on the minds OF those abroad
who are in deepest sympathy with
Americanlsm and what Americanism
used to represent:
Note Of tho government OF the
United States:
The government OF the United
states considers that the commander
(of an unnamed submarinel violated
the principles of international law
and OF humanity by torpedoing Ga
vessel OF commercel before the per-
sons on board had been put in a place
OF safety. The conduct OF
the commander can only be
characterized as wanton slaughter OF
defcnceless non-combatants.
The government of the United States
is forced. therefore. 10 conclude either
that the commander Of the submarine
acted In violation OF his instructions
OF that tho imperial and royal gov
ernment failed 10 issue instructions
TO the commanders OF It's submarines
I'm accordance with the law OF nations
and the principles of humanity. The
government OF the United States is
unwilling 10 believe the latter alter
ative. Il cannot be expected
to do otherwise than TO demand that
the imperial and royal government
denounce the sinking as an illegal and
indefensiblo act, that the officer who
perpetrated the deed bc punished, and
that reparation by the payment Of an
indemnity be made for the citizens Of
the United States who we're killed or
injured by the attack on the vessel.
The government Of the United
States expects that the royal and im-
perial government will accedo 10 its
demand promptly, and will not sane
tion or defend an act which is con-
demned by the world as inhumane and
barharous. which Is abhorrent TO all
civilized nations and which has
caused the death OF innocent Ameri-
can citizens
ITO what wholesale assassination
does this note refer?
ITO that OF the Lusitania?
What royal and imperial govern
ment is summoned to dlsavow crime
and TO punish submarine COM
mander?
THE German?
"No. we have to do here solely with
the wholesale assassination Of the An
coma and solely with the government
Of Austrla-Hungary.
yet with the condemnation Of the
crime committed on November in
the waters OF Sicily applies word for
word to the crime committed on May
of the Head OF kinsale, in the
waters OF ireland.
I'VE recall that the submarine
which torpedoed the Ancona few the
Austrian flag. but that II Is strongly
suspected OF having been German and
having hoisted the colors OF q faith
ful and loyal ally only a few moments
before the attack.
"A suspicion which VIII strengthen
IN our minds so long as the Austrian
government does not name the COM
mander OF the submarine. either to
chase him from the navy or to deco
rate him.
Apparently there are fewer Austro-
! Hungarians than Germans in the
United States. Evidently the more
powerful Teutonic Empire is not that
OF the Danube. but that OF the Spree.
But that argument, IL is almost
needless 10 say, Is worth little IL Il Is
put forward TO excuse the Cabinet at
Washington. prompt TO use energetic
language TO Vienna, but TO let drag