New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-05
Others See Us.

We reprint below in translation an
article by Joseph Rcinach the French
statesman and publicist, which appears IN
"Ie Figaro" of December 10. II is entitled
"The Epistle TO the Austrians' and shows
what impression President Wilson's cham
pionship of neutral rights and of human
ity is making on the minds Of those abroad
who are in deepest sympathy with Ameri-
canism and what Americanism used to
represent:
Note of the government Of the United
States:
"The government Of the United States
considers that the commander OF an uh
named submarine violated tho principles Oh
international law and of humanity by torpe-
doing "a vessel of commerce before inc
persons on board had been put In place
OF safety. The conduct of the COM
mander can only be characterized as wanton
slaughter Of defenceless non-coInbhtants'
The government Of the United States
is forced. therefore, TO conclude eithor that
The commander of the submarine acted IN vlo-
latjon of his instructions or that the imperial
and roval government failed TO Issue instruc-
tions TO the commanders of its submarines
in accordance with the law of nations and tho
principles Of humanity. The government OF
the United States is unwilling to believe the
latter alternative. Il cannot be expected
to do otherwise than TO demand that the
imperial and royal government denounce the
sinking as an illegal and indefcnsible act,
that the officer who perpetrated the deed be
punished. and that reparation by the pay
meDt of an indemnity BE made for the citi-
zers of the United States who were killed
or injured by the attack on the vessel.
The government Of the United States expects
that the royal and imperial government VIII
accede to its demand promptly, and VIII not
sanction or defend an act which Is condemned
bv the world "a inhumane and barbarous,
which is abhorrent TO all civilized nations and
which has caused the death of innocent Amer
lean citizens"
To what wholesale assassination does this
note refer?
To that of the Lusitania?
What royal and imperial government Is
summoned TO disavow crime and TO punish
a submarine commander?
The German?
No. we have 20 do here solely with the
wholesale assassination of the Ancona and
solely with the government Of Austria-Hun-
gary.
Yet the condemnation of the crime commit
ted on November in the waters Of Sicily APP
niles word for word 10 the crime committed
on Nav of the Head of Kinsale, ir the
waters of ireland.
We recall that the submarine which tor
nedoed the Aucona few the Austrian flag, but
that It is strongly suspected of having been
German and having hoisted the colors OF q
faithful and loyal ally only few moments
before tho attack.
A suspicion which will strengthen in our
minds so long as the Austrian government
does not name the commander OF the subma-
,ine. either 20 chase him from the navy or TO
decorate him.
Apparently there are fewer Austro-Hun-
o.riens than Germans in the United States.
Evidently the more powerful Teutonic En-
pire is not that of the Danube, but that OF
the Spree.
But that argument, it is almost needless 20
say. is worth little if it is put forward 70 ex-
cuse the Cabinet at Washington, prompt TO
use energetic language to Vienna, but to let
drag out in interminable protocols its pain
full negotiations with Berlin.
For an outrage is just so much more abom-
Unable when It is committed by a stronger
mower The German Americans will not be
put TO the proof, the indispensable proof
that of an open conflict between the United
States and Germany That is the tombstone
of the whole matter For it is not Austria
Hungary which has undertaken the economic
conquest-always the preface of a political
conquest-of the United States.
All the same, we must felicitate President
Wilson on his epistle to the Austrians. He
thus creates precedent; he establishes his
Jurisprudence and his vocabulary.
We await the epistle TO the Germans
The whole world is also still awaiting it..