New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-21

lCovornmcnt shall declare and effect an
abandonment of its present mehods OF
submarine warfare against passenger and
/ freght-carrying vessels.
No clear idea of the Administration
attitude can be deduced from these tan
gled statements. Does the President con-
tend that submarine warfare against mer'
chantmen must be abandoned because II
/ is in itself abhorrent to humane principles
and incompatible with neutral rights
+ Does he mean to demand immunity from
the peril of submarine attacks for Ameri-
cans only. or for all others, neutrals ana
Ibclligcrents as well. who ship or travel on
merchantmen? What does he mean by re-
curing Germany to abandon not all subma-
rine warfare. but only RELENTLESS and IN
discriminate" warfare and present meth
DDS" Of warfare?
After the Arabic was sunk Germany
promised not to I tcdo without warning
enemy liners" w1m.d not resist or
attempt TO escape. ~ kcession was
hailed as a triumph fc'7-~ dminlstra-
ton. 1t could be construc, - triumph
only by admitting Gcrmany's'right13, con
tinuc a submarine warfare agal's otn~I.
classes Of merchantmen on which RrSEl-
can citizens were not likely to take pas
sage. Celebrating such a concession as a
victory took all the virtue out of the con-
tention that submarine warfare IS inde-
fcnsible because Of its very character and
IFS incompatibility with the principles of
humanity and with incontrovertiblc neu-
trial rights.
Not long ago Germany cancelled the
concession Of immunity to liners. making
it apply only TO liners that arc not armed.
Does the phrase present methods OF sub
marine warfare" in the last paragraph OF
the note refer 10 this change of policy
q change which was made almost colncl-
dentally with the publication of Secretary
Lansing's famous memorandum on the
arminr Of merchantmen, in which tins
opinion was given: 81 should add that my
government is impressed with the reason
.ableness of the argument that merchant
vessel carrying armament Of any sort IN
view Of the character Of the submarine
warfare and the defensive weakness OF
undersea craft, should be held to be an
auxiliary cruiser and so treated by ncu-
trail as well as by belligerent govern
ment. and is seriously considering IN
structing It's officials accordingly?
Tn his desire to ring the changes on
mellihuous phrases like Serving the inter
ests of humanity" and Fighting the bat
ties Of mankind" President Wilson has
drifted far from the sound and simple
conceptions of the note of February TO-
1915. That stood for Americanism- 4
nothing more. nothing less. 1t stood r.
the maintenance Of American rights! -
for holding to "strict accountabilityYyny
power which violated those rights f3rhe
more Mr.. Wilson has talked abou1Fndi-
eating humanity the less he has Z ought
about defending national honor ard IN
terests. %
What we need most now in dc2fSg with
Germany is to clarity our poitt fo view,
TO rid our case of extraneous gfejoric and
10 get back to the solid basis DY national
right and interest from whictgY started.
Whatever we do we should dfias Ameri-
cans. in vindication Of our owr1overelgnty
and in support of our own IF Ftige.
IF we are at last to ca iermany to
account, let it be excluG {ey on the
grounds so admirably statff in our orig
inal warning and for the colossal crime
Of the Lustania, brazenl4 acknowledged
and after more than elfen months still
lunavenged! II