New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-19

out warning was encouraged III not in
vitcd by the memorandum OF our state
Department TO the Entente powers.
Quotes from Lansing Note.
zone paragraph Of that memorandum
is "a follows:
"T should add that my government
is impressed with the rcasonablcness
Of the argument that a merchant vessel
carrying armament OF any sort in view
OF the character Of the submarine war
fare and the defensive weakness OF
under-sca craft. should be held to be
an auxiliary cruiser and so treated by
neutral "a well as by q belligerent
government. and is seriously consider
ing instructinR its officials accordingly.
"Thc paragraph from tho memoran-
dun suggests n dangerous and vicious
principle Without reference to any
nation here involved the proposal
therein contained. would subordinate
the interests of commerce to the in
terest Of the submarine. and in con-
sequence TO the interests OF that ma
tion whose strength on the high seas
lay in tho superiority OF her sub
marine feet. Under the operation OF
this principle the legitimate commerce
of half dozen opposing nation,
as between themselves as well as that
with neutral nations carried in enemy
merchantmen. might. il wholly defence
less, be made the easy prey OF that
power which was superior in sub
marine strength and which chose TO
be rcmorscless in its use"
After citing authorities 10 show the
recogIzed right Of merchantmen to the
81 Id. To-
Sterling continued:
"Of all the peoples in the wide world
II i'll becomes us TO deny Great Britain
that right now. or TO spend an hour
in diplomatic haggling to secure her
remuneration Of II. Our export trade
has been growing by leaps and bounds.
The manufacturers Of munitions OF war
are not the only benefciaries, but the
products Of the farm, the forest, the
mine, find foreign demand and a
market never in the aggregate equalled.
But with our own poor and inadequate
merchant marine how would it have
been were she not mistress of the
seas?
Possible Injury TO Trade.
cor suppose the ships flying the
times, and the naval strength Of the re-
spective belligerents now at war we're
nearly matched. what OF the annoy
ances. the desperate Complications. the
injury to trade. the changes Of war, as
compared with the grievances suffered
from her now and against which we so
loudly protest. although assured Of
reparation for every material loss, and
lg oil cf oil I'D
els il reasonable. then, that n Brit
ish or French merchant vessel carrying
four small guns astCrn for defensive
purposes and bringing their cargoes Of
British or French goods for consump-
ton by our people and ready TO carry
away food supplies produced by our
people for their peoples or their
armies is il reasonable because Of the
defensive weakness Of any murderous
~ dorsoas craft that we should treat
them as warships and intern them dur
ing the war!
THE wee # the suggestion Of tho
State Department. lies in this. that be-
cause the deadly submarine is not
strong on defence you must therefore
maze the merchant ship absolutely
helpless against The submarine. In
stead Of denying this old right OF the
seas. We should now OF all times vie
with any other nation in seeking TO
uphold il.
cit il possible some danger will be
incurred, but ! do not much fear that
dangers will be much increased be-
yond what they are at present. But
do know that let another sea horror
occlr in which American lives are in
volYed and this Administration and TIC
world will know that there is a real
America, not supine, apathetic and hes
itating, but strong. militant. II need
be, and ready 20 respond TO those
noble impulses Of liberty and humanity
which have been our heritage from the
beginning"