Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-05-06

Washington May 5.--Germany's dip
lomatic correspondence with the United
States on the submarine issue has ex-
tended over nearly year and more than
once has brought the two countries to
a pass where the long expected break
seemed unavoidable. All along Presi-
dent Wilson has spoken primarily for
the rights of neutrals. GermaSy has
been restrained by powerful public
sentiment aroused against curtailing the
effectiveness Of her best weapon against
her enemies, and President Wilson has
been embarrassed first by dissension
in the cabinet and later in Congress and
by pro-German propaganda conducted
throughout the United States.
The First Note
Submarine warfare did not actually
enter the realm of diplomacy until aft
er the destruction Of the Lusitania. The
accumulation of cases affecting Ameri-
cans was taken up in the first note to
Germany, which was dispatched May
IS, 1915. 1t characterized the attacks
on the Falaba, Cushing. Gulfiight and
Lusitania as "a series of events which
the United States has observed with
growing concern, distress and amaze
ment." 1t pointed to Germany's hith-
erto expressed humane and enlighten-
ed attitude" in matters of international
right and expressed the hope that SUBJ
marine commanders engaged in torpedo
ing peaceful ships without warning,
were in such practices operating with
out the sanction of their government.
The note closed with these words:
THE imperial German government
will not expect the government Of the
United States to omit any word or act
necessary to the performance of it's sa-
cred duty sf maintaining the rights Of
the United States and it's citizens and
enjoyment"
Germany's Reply
On May 2s, 1915, Germany replied
with a note which covered a wide range
Of argument 1t alleged that the Lusi-
tania had masked guns aboard; that she
in effect was British auxiliary cruis-
er; that she carried munitions of war;
that her owning company, aware Of the
damages she risked in the submarine
zone. was in reality responsible for the
loss Of American lives and referred to
the fact that the British admiralty had
offered large rewards to liner captains
who rammeG or destroyed submarines.
The note met none Of the contentious
Of the United States so far as the Lu-
sitanta and Faleha sinkings were con-
ccrned. although e. supplementary note
later did acknowledge that Germany
was wrong in the attacks on the Cush-
ing and the Gulfiight, expressed regret
for these two cases and promised to
pay damages. While the American re-
ply to the note was being framed, dis
sension in the cabinet resulted in the
resignation of Secretary Bryan who
contended for a policy Of warning Am
ericans OFF belligerent ships.
The Bryan Incident
Meanwhile several sensational incidents
cropped up in connection with the nego-
tiations, chief Of which was the sending
of a message to the Berlin foreign Office
by DR.. Dumba, the Austrian ambassador,
later recalled at the request of President
Wilson, which was represented as stating
substantially that Mr.. Bryan had intimat-
ed to the ambassador that the vigorous
tone Of the American notes should not
be regarded in Berlin as too warlike.
Secretary Lansing took Office as Mr..
Bryan's successor. and his reply to the
German note took issue with every con-
tention Germany had set up in the Fall
aba and Lusitania cases; denied fatty
the contention that the Lusitania was
armed or was to be treated as other than
a peaceful merchant ship. and reminded
Germany that it was the duty Of the
United States Ito speak with solemn en-
phasis to call the attention Of tho irnpe-