The Washington times., 1916-02-05
ANOTHER CRISIS---MAYBE

Germany sends its "last word" on
the Lusitania, and simultaneously
high official of the Berlin foreign of
flee gives out assurance that it isn't
what the United States wanted, but
is all Germany can grant. Some
how the chauvinistic tone of this ut
terance suggests that perhaps Ger
many has granted that which it
knows the United States will ac-
cept, and then clustered a bit for
the benefit of folks at home, with
intent to make them believe that
America, not Germany, yielded at
the last point in order to produce
the meeting of the minds.
At any rate it is hard to believe
that Germany will force a severance
of diplomatic relations with the pa
tient Washington Government over
a detail that cannot have much mill
tary significance. Long ago, Ger
many gave assurance that she
would not sink any more liners with
out providing for the safety of pas
sengers and crews. That certainly
seems a substantial equivalent for
admitting that the Lusitania per-
formance was wrong. With the ad-
mission that it was wrong, and the
promise that it will not occur again,
there is not a very long step to
using the word "illegal" in confess
ing the error. 1t seems that Wash
ington insists on the use of this
word.
Germany might have stuck out for
this detail, few weeks ago; but
without doubt that country, at least
its rulers, have been impressed with
the new sentiments developed in the
! United States. The President
speeches in the West have amazed
most Germans; and it is imputing nc
improper purpose to Mr.. Wilson tc
suspect that those speeches were in
/ tended to affect Germany, to in,
! fiuence the Lusitania negotiations
as we'll as to stir up the American
public on the preparedness issue.
/ Looking at the matter in this light
it is reasonable also to presume tina
Herr Zimmermann, German under
secretary for foreign affairs, wa
talking back at the Wilson prepared
ness speeches when he said that Ger
many had reached it's limit and tina
the United States must not seek t,
humiliate that country. The diplo
matte exchanges are to be read ant
weighed in the light of these entire
ly unofficial utterances on both side
of the water. Taking everything to
gether, there is left the feeling tina
perhaps considerable bluffing ha
been INDUCED on both sides; an
bluffing, of this sort, at such juno
ture, is likely to be the prelimnar
to concessions and composition.
Germany has vastly more to los
by a severance of diplomatic rels
tions with the United States tha
the United States would lose in tha
event. Germany cannot afford, n
matter how great her contempt fo
the military Importance of tn
ITnitaI Stotnc 70 tol-n lA1ihN~D+o Il
position that will invite all tn
world to array itself against her.
For the United States to be force
over to the anti-German side of tn
worlds lineup would have a Wit;
effect in many countries; some {
them probably more important
German calculations than the Unite
= States. Thus, the Scandinavia
| countries would be powerfully a
! fected. They have sent millions {
their people to America. The til
: of sentiment and interest betwee
r Scandinavia and the United STATE
are only less potent than the ties I
, sentiment, interest, and langual
2 that exist among the English-speal
r ing peoples. Hollands neutrality
of the utmost Importance to Ge
!, many; and Holland, always fearf
: of German ambitions and aggre
e sions, would be profoundly moved
o realization that the United Stat
t had been driven from its neutralit
h Greece and Roumania, perhaps
this moment the critical points
e diplomatic and military conta'
n would understand that America