The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-11-23
MUST DECIDE HOW AMERICA
SHALL MEET SUBMARINE
QUESTION AND TRADE
RESTRICTIONS.
UNDERSEA CAMPAIGN MAY
INVOLVE UNITED STATES
Five Critical Cases Pending, One In
voIving Less of Six American Lives,
Two Others Involving American
Ships, Add to Problems OF
Chief Executive.

Washington, Nov. 21.-A ~pOrteatious
and complicated international situa-
ton now is facing President Wilson
and for the next few weeks will en-
gage his attention and that of his ad-
visers 10 the practical exclusion Of all
but the most urgent subjects. In the
last days of the campaign, Secretary
of State Lansing frequently spoke Of
the necessity of ~pOstponing action on
the more delicate international ques-
tons because the uncertainty of the
outcome of the political contest had a
direct bearing on the success or fail
ure of some of the administration poll.
cies.
From now on the President expects
to deal with all foreign questions
without embarrassment. Fear that
any move at all would be misinter-
prsted as inspired by an internal poll
teal struggle has been removed.
Must Solve Fig Problems.
The President must decide how the
United States shall meet the German
submarine question On the one hand
and the Allied trade restrictions Or
the other; whether the retaliatory leg
islation shall be enforced, whether
traditional theory of isolation shall be
abandoned for concerted neutral ac-
ton and whether the country shall
have an aggressive or a passive policy
toward the peace conference after the
war and the permanent league to en-,
fnrna ,npooa whjch tho DrnCfdnnt hoo
accepted in theory. And, during the
rest Of the wal shall Americas atti-
tude be governed by a decided benevo-
lence in the Interpretation of in
ternational law according to its own
best interests or shall it be strictly
legalistic regardless of whom it af-
fects?
Five Submarine Gases.
Most disquieting of the problems is
the submarine situation with Germany.
Five critical cases are pending, one
involving a loss of six American lives,
two others involving American ships.
Increasingly serious is the fast grow
ing conviction that any kind of gen.
eral submarine warfare, even if COM
plying with the rules as to giving
warning and affording some measure
of safety to passengers, is intolerable.
Germany is known to be building
submarines rapidly and there is the
possibility of a starvation campaign
against England. Its effects would
States might find it difficult to avoid
complications.
U. S. Attitude Flat and Final.
The American attitude is flat and
final. Ships must not be sunk with
out warning or without provisions for
the safety of the passengers. The
armed ship issue undoubtedly will be
advanced by Germany but will not be
accepted. Secretary Lansing last
March decreed that merchant vessels
could carry a small defensive gun If
that endangers submarines that is
part Of their weakness.
The future of the submarine situa-
ton Is felt to rest entirely with Ger
many. The possibilities are feared
either that Germany will decide that
she can starve England by an under
sea campaign, or that she may endeav-
or to involve this country and thus
insure the participation in peace con
ferences of a generous enemy inclined
toward just peace terms.
Lusitania Case Unsettled.
Beyond this the Lusitania case re-
mains unsettled. Germany has admit
ted liability and offered indemnity, but
the delicate matter of its amount has
not been settled.
The ravages of the U-53 off New
England were displeasing to the gov.
eminent but the incident was viewed
as isolated. 1t was said that contin-
lance of the practice would not be
permitted as it would constitute a
practical blockade of American har-
bors.
Gales lmperil British Shipping.
London, Nov. 20.-A renewal OF the
heavy palac uhich have v;a;toI A.