Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-05
PHILADELPHTANS SEE
GERMAN DESIRE TO
MEET U. S. HALFWAY
Value Of Friendship Chief
Cause of Concessions on
U-Boat Warfare, Says John
Frederick Lewis
NOTE PLEAsEs LAWYERS
"Stand by President" Says Governor
Mccall, Here in Interest
Of Preparedness

Philadelphians generally expressed
themselves today as seeing in the reply of
the German Government in the U.boat
controversy disposition on the part OF
Berlin diplomats to meet half way" the
demands Of the United states. Several
persons whose acquaintance with interna-
tional law gives prominence to their views
on the subjects involved in the contro-
versy are quoted below.
The value of the friendship Of the
| United States is regarded so highly by
| Germany as to be the chief cause for the
concessions indicated in the U-boat reply
| received today" Such was the inter-
/ probation placed upon the latest note by
/ John Frederick Lewis authority on inter
| national questions.
Mr. Lewis, however said he could mot
| quite understand the German reply"
The translation must be defective" he.
| said. I'm substance l gather that the
| German Government has concluded to
make further concessions and will adopt
| its methods of submarine warfare more
to the interests of neutrals than hereto
fore This seems TO be clear. The reply
states that in reaching this decision the
German Government ls aCtuated not only
by the friendship which has connected
Germany and America for more than 100
great doom which threatens the entire
civilized world should the war be extended
and prolonged
Germany evidently desires to keep the
friendship of the United States In fact
/ do not well see how she can do other
wise, | earnestly hope that the nature
of her concessions may have been already
communicated to the Government of the
United States or will be promptly COM
01unlCltp1 h, "a 4
as satisfactory"
FRANCIS FISHER KANE.
United States Attorney Francis Fisher
Kane, in commenting on the German note
said:
Il think the Presidents stand in the
present controversy has been admirable |
throughout. He has handled the stua- |
ton, to my mind, In the best possible |
manner l have little sympathy with |
those who say nothing is accomplished |
by note.writing, It undoubtedly is one |
OF the best possible methods TO pursue
We have stood our ground. and If we |
get Germany to admit she's wrong II will |
be far more important victory for inter.
national law than could be gained by war
If you knock man down for some act
he will get up and do 1t over again. Get
him to admit that he isc wrong, and the
victory is just that much greater"
GOVERNOR MCCALL.
Governor Samuel W. Mccall. of Mas.
sachusetts, here in connection with the
preparedness movement, said IT don't
think 1t is the privilege of men who hold
public positions to comment on the Ger. |
man reply to the Presidents note, because
they may something that would embarrass
the President He is the only one 10 say
what America thinks of the reply. We
must all stand behind President Wilson
in this situation He has a tremendous
responsibility resting on his shoulders and
he needs all Americans to stand back of
him. 1t is a question of patriotism, not of
opinion"
PROF. WILLIAM l. HULL.
I'VE ought not go to war against Ger
many with England" said Professor VIII
liam l. Hull, of the chair of history and
relations at Swarthmore Col
Iege Germany has offered us conces-
slons and just what we should do in the
future should be determined by the ma
ture of the concessions, l believe that
we should insist upon the recognition of
neutral rights, but insist that England
them as we'll as Germany, II
we fight we should fight for the United
States and not for England
1T is necessary to American interests
that we come to definite agreement
regarding the rights of neutrals. But
we should not enter into such an agree
ment with Germany alone. Whatever
the solution of the problem, IL should in
volve all nations. Until the question is
settled in that way, I believe it would
be unwise to fight The note is good
news to me-"
THOMAS RAEBURN WHITE,
Until have seen the text of the note,
|, cannot comment on it," said Thomas
Raeburn White, attorney and an authority
on international law.
Henry La Barre Jayne a member of
the bar and law teacher OF repute said
owing to the apparent incompleteness
Of the German note as published in the
papers I would prefer not to express an
opinion till see a more complete text.
Being a Democrat and in sympathy |
with President Wilson and the men as
sociated with him who have charge OF the
and for whose intelligence and
Judgment | have great faith, whatever de-
cision they arrive at will have my hearty
support"
nnCTnnRu Ingnn NTRn EITNTnG .