West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-05-04
The Ultimatum to Germany

There can be no question among
clear-headed and temperate minded
people as TO what ought 10 happen as
a result of this note Germany ought
az once 10 abandon the practises Justly
complained OF, and ought 10 conform
her submarine methods In the North
Sea and the waters about the British
Islands TO the methods that she and
Austria and agreed early I'm January
to employ i'm the Mediterranean. Ger
many's submarine commanders have
been running amuck I'm the most
shocking way. all under the preteNt
OF "reprisal." and not under the coun-
| tenance OF international law as inter
| prcted by anybody. This policy has
hurt the Allies appreciably. but il has
hurt Germany a great deal more. A
change of method would helm Ger
many to au extent far beyond any loss
to her naval efficiency As n matter
OF fact she has been exceptionally
careful TO avoid direct injury TO the
American ships or passengers, but has
been careless of the rights OF Dutch.
OF Danes, of Swedes and of Norweg
ians. These smaller ueighbors OF
Germany have had vastly greater
ground for complaint and challenge
than we have had But their circum-
stances have not permitted them to
resort to extreme measures i'm defense
of their rights.
AS We have repeatedly stated. we
do not approve OF the use OF subma
rIues as commerce destroyers. But
this practice cannot be stopped Just
now. Russian, French and British
submarines, operating in the Baltic. i'm
the Mediterranean. i'm the Dardanelles
and Sea OF Narmora. and i'm the Black
Sea-and 10 limited extent else
where haze been acting as commerce
destroycIs against Germany. Austria
and Turkey The submarine is an es-
tablished naval instrumentality. The
foremost pacihst editor in America.
who speaks and writes against big
navies and against preparedness.
openly favors the construction of a
great number of submarines by the
Gni'ed Statpa
Cur state department. together with
our naval authorities. has studied the
submarine problem carefully. and is
ON record in the most formal way as |
supporting the use of submarines by !
Germany in the present war. provided |
certain methods are followed The |
Presidents demand, therefore. OF |
April 19, taking the form of a note TO |
Germany signed by Secretary Lam |
sing, must be read in relation to the |
entire discussion, which has extended |
over fifteen months The doctrine OF |
Mr Wilson and Mr.. Lansing Is that |
merchant ships ought not to arm and |
ought not to try to escape when they |
have been fairly warned to submit to |
visit or search. Ia their note to the |
Allies Of January 49, Mr. Wilson and /
Mr.. Lansing said that they were i'm
pressed with the reasonableness OF
The argument that a merchant vessel
carrying armament OF any sort, I'm |
view OF the character of submarine
warfare and the defensive weakness of
craft, should be held to be an
auxiliary cruiser and so treated by a
neutral as we'll as by a belligerent
government" This shows plainly |
enough how far our authorities have ]
been from espousing the doctrine that
Germany should give up her use of /
submarines against British and /
French commerce. Our doctrine has |
been simply that Germany should OBJ |
serve the time-honored rules of hu- |
manity, and should not lawlessly i'm |
peril the lives OF non-combatants who |
have right to sail the high seas
From "The Progress of the World"
in the American Review OF Reviews
for May 1916