New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-14
As to the Lusitania

Hughes in the matter of the Lusi-
tania. if by his Louisville utterance
ne meant to express the belief that
had the German government known
in advance that the sinking Of the
Lusitania would be followed merely
bv a severance Of diplomatic rela-
tions il would have refrained from
the crime.
The only chance that there was Of
preventing this crime was to estab-
lish the fact in the German mind
that to murder American citizens
vas TO bring the United States into
the war. The Lusitania Massacre
was an act Of war; it could only have
been avoided by serving notice upon
Germany that an act of war against
the United States would be followed
by a condition of war. Such con-
dition of war would have meant, for
example, the immediate loss Of the
millions of dollars represented by
the German ships interned in this
and other American ports. 1t
would have meant the eventual loss
incident to American participation
in the economic alliance of the En-
tente Powers to cripple German
Trade after the war.
The German government cares
nothing about formalities or techni-
canties. 1t cares nothing about
friendly relations with the United
States. 1t cares nothing about any
thing but success in the war in which
il is engaged. Friendly relations
with the United States will not help
the Germans to win the war. Sink
ing British ships would and will con-
tribute more or less TO German in
terest.
The nation which invaded Belgium
in defiance Of all considerations Of
faith and honor and in the face Of
the practical certainty of British
participation in the war as a conse-
ouenoe would not withhold its hand
in the case Of American lives, If the
extreme peril to be run was an in
terruption Of diplomatic relations
and a cessation Of communications.
mainly at the mercy Of Allied cen
sors.
The German government only
abandoned its submarine campaign
when it became convinced that the
people Of the United States would no
longer tolerate these crimes and that
public sentiment would drive weak
and supine Administration into a
defence of American lives. II is only
a little while since the German Chan
cellor himself said publicly that the
German government changed its
course in the submarine matter be-
cause the profit of the old policy was
rot comparable with its possible cost,
and this cost was a war with the
United States, as he indicated by i'm
rlication rather than direct state
ment.
Neither Dir. Hughes nor any other
American should misunderstood the
conditions under which Germany
refrsins from numbering Americans
on the high seas. Germany will re
turn TO this policy the moment she is
convinced that there is a profit in it.
n the sole danger il involves is the
dismissal Of Bernstorf and the re
call Of Gerard, Germany will begin
without delay. She would begin the
day Mr.. Hughes entered the White
House IL she were satisfied that this
was the utmost that Mr.. Hughes
was prepared TO advocate as an an
swer 10 German massscres.
IL is an altogether vicious idea 10
imagine that one can deal with the
German government Of the hour and
the German people in its present
mood in the manner in which one
might deal with an individual or "a
nation chiefly concerned with nice
questions Of honor or humanity.
Germany = in the mood Of a wild
beast and sbe has broken over every