South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-09
MAY 0, 1910.
LETTING GERMANY TRY AGAIN.


Again the administration at washington seems &c
have shown it's bigness Of personnel by the manner
in which IL has risen above the language Of Ger
arrogance Insulting as was the German note
it appears TO be the policy of Prest Wilson and his
advisors TO allow the German government the benefit
OF every doubt and break off diplomatic rela-
tions merely because Kaiser Wilhelm and his ad
visors have -swered our demands in such I'M
diplomatic way There room for possible construc
ton of the German note to the effect that orders
have been given to the submarine commanders thai
they shall sink neutral merchant ships
without hrst having compiled with the requirements
OF international law, by anording the and pas
sengers safety. president may
at least sem-cOnsistenty conclude let that stand
without breaking off diplomatic relations long a.
the instructions followed this too regardless
the remainder OF the notes quibbling
instruction to Germany that this will he our atti-
tude has already gone forward We cannot see how
however there be any further parley
from the that the sinking of another vesse
after the manner OF the Lusitana, Sussex is
established. We refuse to be ruled because Colt
leib Jagow German minister Of war nasty
with his qail really ought to be beneath us wher
give a thought. what we are really
after is results rather than words II Germany
will back up her orders gone forth commanders
for her snarls sneers. spilled
the diplomats reason believe largely
to placate the people Germany. rather than bens
hurled for ofensiveness at the people the United
States. Let her snarl sheer to placate the Ger
rians. but let her deliver the goods fur
her parley. II she does Ambassador Won Bern
storr should get his passports passage FOL
Germany will then surely have proven that hel
word worth the pepper.
Germany. too. should be given to understand this
that when she asks the United States the price OF
immunity from having citizens murdered sea
must put stop to the British blockade she ask,
something that decline consider; that we ar,
conducting negotiations with Great Britain and
that without any outside dctation.
The same principle that Secy Lansing stated
in his of July 81 1915 concerning the
Lustania case still holds:
The government the United States can
not discuss the policy Of Great Britain with re-
gard to neutral trade. except with that govern
mont itself. and must regard the conduct Of
other belAgerent governments irrelevant to
discussion with the imperial German gov
OF what this government regards as
grave and unjusthable violations Of the rights
OF American citizens by German naval com
manders."
We cannot bargain and barter as Germany wants
US TO, because it is beneath dignity as nation
and because it would be an unheard OF diplomat,
procedure. We cannot do it because the offenses o
Germany and Britain are not comparable w,
cannot co DC because would deSerNedN bring down
the enmity Of Britain. France and Russia
1t seems incomprehensible that Germany should re
gard German and British aggressons as i'm the sam,
class. one is murder and the other larceny. ,
citizen find neghbor shooting down nj
wife and another neighbor simultaneously robbing hi
apple tree. which would ne attack and which
would he punish most severely?
We should long ago have held England to accoun
strictly FOR injuries American property if on
att and haH IN
more important purpose Of protecting American life
Now Germany's proposal taints even such efforts a
shall make hereafter If accepted IT, then II
every appeal 90 Great Britain to bring her own con
within law we should be regarded as tn
mouthpiece OF Germany instead the free champion
OF rights international law. And ever.
appeal would be resented would fail and would invt
hostility and even war
We bring British blockade within ega
hounds. but TO do it without the embarrass
ment of German dctaton. It Is simply question o
mate trade with other neutrals in war time And thi
is something that Germany particularly msunderstands
We have business interfering with the British
blockade insofar $ really a blockade our chic
criticism that has been legal because not com
plete. 1t cannot properly bar as even from tradin
direct with Germany unless il bars all nations
the Gordon is drawn tightly around Germany we can
not object. But Germany argues that 10 blockade
nation is intrinsically unlawful
The United States itself set England the exampl
By blOekading the confederacy in our civil war Al