Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-20
the law when directed at mer-
chant ships. 3}s

This note does not impeach the good
faith of Germany in trying to regu-
late undersea fighting, or assail the
sincerity Of the pledges Germany mas
given this country. On the contrary
it says that submarine warfare can
not be carried on without violating
such pledges; therefore, if the laws
Of nations and of humanity are
respected the campaign will have to
end.
And, in demanding that Germany
use her submarines against warshlps
only the United States calls upon
that country to abandon a campaign
which the German Government pro-
fesses to believe is her only effective
weapon in combating the British
starvation blockade.
Whether OF not Germany will make
so sweeping surrender OF course re-
mains to be seen. # she does not
Diplomatic intercourse between the
two countries will suddenly stop, and
when that intercourse is broken of
friendly relations Will necessarily
cease.
The hope is expressed on every hand
here that the German Government,
when it comes to weight the demands
which have been made, and to balance
the loss Of American friendship and
possibly that of other neutrals
against the doubtful gains from sub
marine attacks upon non-combatant
merchantmen, will yield. At pest,
however, this is but hope. No assur-
ance has come from any source to
sustain it.
In any event the next move must
come from Germany. The resonsibll-
ity for the future relationship be-
tween this country and that rests up
ON Berlin. The President has taken
his stand and it is irrevocable. II it
had not been the situation would not
have been laid before Congress. The
answer of the German Government,
therefore, will be anxiously awaited
from end to end of the country.
1t is significant that the President
made no recommendation whatever to
Congress. He asked that body to
take no action, not even to support
the position he had taken. Moreover,
he stated plainly that he had sent his
ultimatum to Germany, not that nc
would send it. In other words, he
went to Congress to communicate
action already taken, not to ask ad-
vice upon action that was contemplat-
ed.
Such note at has been forwarded
to Germany, of course, is not tan
tamount to war. Even if the demands
are rejected and diplomatic relations
are broken, it does not necessarily
follow that war will be declared by
either government. Both sides may
simply stand off and await develop
ments.
Moreover. Germany may decide to
suffer break between that country
and this, rather than abandon its
undersea campaign, but may at the
same time issue such orders to her
submarine commanders as will give
the United States no cause for furth-
er complaint. In other words, the Ber-
lin Government. for domestic reas-
ons, may prefer loss of American
friendship to the condemnation of her
own public opinion. This is view
held by many of those who fear that
Germany will publicity proclaim no
abandonment of the undersea warfare
At best, however, the SITUATION is
grave. Yet there seems nothing more
to be done from Washington unit
the final reply of Germany is recelv'
ed. If the American demand now
merely asked for further assurance;
as to attacks upon unarmed and un
resisting merchant ships, the out
look would be more promising. Bu
the demand is for the abandonment
of attacks against all merchantmen
and therefore raises a far broader
question than has heretofore arlsel
between the two governments.