New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-20
More Strong Words.

tanned many strong words. Inc strongest
were those in which he told Congress that
he had threatened to break off diplomatic
relations with the German Government
This was his demand on Berlin, as he HIM
self described it, Unless the Imperial
German Government should now lmme-
diately declare and effect an abandonment
of its present methods Of warfare against
passenger and freight carrying vessels
this Government can have no choice but to
sever diplomatic relations with the Govern
ment of the German Empire altogether.
This warning goes further than Mr.. VIII
son had previously gone in his correspond
encc with Germany, inasmuch as 1t final
" suggests ringing down the curtain on
an over.extendcd exchange Of futile diplo-
matic notes. But it does not go any
further than the President was entitled to
60 three months ago. or even Sin months
ago. Mr.. Wilson now puts up to Germany
a choice which could have been put up to-
her with equal propriety at almost any
moment since the Arabic was sunk-which,
without giving ground for any imputa-
tion Of undue heat or haste on our part,
could have been put up to Germany after
the Administrations third formal appeal
for a disavowal of the Lustania Massacre
lad failed to bring anything like salts
factory response
The President has used strong words
ever since he began TO write notes TO Ger
many on the subject of submarine war
fare away back in February. 1915. No
diplomatic communication could well have
been brusqucr i'm tone or more uncompro-
missing in substance than the original pro
test of February 10. 1915, against Ger
many's plans for conducting submarine
warfare in the "war zone" proclaimed in
the waters about Great Britain and Ire
land.
The German Government was told in ad-
vance BY Mr. Wilson that it would be held
20 "strict accountability" for any act IN
violation Of the recognized rules OF war
fare at sea by which American lives should
be lost. or even put in jeopardy. The
theory Of "strict accountability went into
effect more than fourteen months ago. 1t
must have meant as much in February
1915. as it means to-day. Yet in his ad-
dress to Congress yesterday the President
said:
Again and again, in manner
which the Government of the United
States cannot but regard as wanton
and without the slightest color Of JUS
tifcation, no limit of any kind has, in
fact, been set to the indiscriminate
pursuit and destruction of merchant
men Of all kinds and nationalities
within the waters. constantly extend
ing in area. where these operations
have been carried on; and the roll Of
Americans who have lost their lives
on ships thus attacked and destroyed
has grown month by month until the
ominous toll has mounted into the
hundreds
But all the while we have been living
inder an era Of "strict accountability
The notice Of February 10, 1915, so far
as the public is informed, has never been
either modified or withdrawn.
In the first Lusitania note Nh Wilson
told Germany that this Government would
"omit no word or act necessary to the per-
formance Of It's sacred duty Of maintaining
the rights Of the United States and its
citizens and Of safeguarding their free
exercise and enjoyment" This warning
was repeated in different phrases in the
second and third Lusitania notes, each time
very "solemnly." 1t is still uncancelled-
md still UNDECIDED
Words from Washington have had no
weight in influencing Gcrmanys submarine
policy because The German Government
| quickly discovered Secretary Bryan was
consideratc enough % advertise the fact 10
foreign diplomats in Washington) that
words On Mr. Wilson's part we're not to
be associated with deeds Americans, too,