New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-22
MIR. Lansing Says ''Tut, Tut"

No one should be deluded by the reports
that there is a new spirit in Washington,
that Count Won Bernstorff is TO be warned,
scolded, possibly sent home-this last
promptly denied-because he has con-
Quoted propaganda in Washington IN
pleasant TO Mr.. Wilson or Mr.. Lansing.
Count Won Bernstorff will not be sent
home, for the very simple reason that
the Wilson Administration cannot send
him home without confessng the bank
ruptcy of its policy from the sinking Of
the Lusitania TO the present hour.
Has any one forgotten that time, few
months ago, when German statesmen
seemed 70 have transformed Bernstorit' S
Arabic memorandum into scrap OF
paper? Then there were brave words
spoken in Washington about sending Bern
storff home. What happened? Bernstortf
gave 1.-THE Evening Sun an interview say
ing fatty war would come two days after
he was out Of the country. Then all the
brave words vanished We had crisis
on Saturday, and on Monday the situa-
tion-actually unchanged-had improved
In every Washington dispatch.
Bernstorff will be permitted TO stay, be-
cause while he stays and only while he
STAYS can Mr.. Wilson and his defenders
continue to utter their single defence for
the Administration policy-"he has kept
Us out of war;"
No one knows this better than Bern
storff. He knows the Administration
hates him, but he knows, what is more to
the point, that it fears him. He knows
that the whole Wilson policy has become
an ignominious scuttle, an effort to pre-
serve peace at any price and make that
peace the chief claim for Mr.. Wilson's
reelection.
That is why Bernstorff sits in the Ger
man Embassy and puts forth information
and propaganda designed to misrepresent
The Government and the Secretary Of
State. That is why he will continue as he
has done in the past, 70 defy Mr.. Wilson
and TO do violence to every shred OF
diplomatic tradition and precedent.
All summer long Bernstorff played with
Mr.. Wilson's political necessities. He knew
that Mr.. Wilson must have diplomatic
victory" TO atone for his "too proud to
fight" speech and his policy Of turning his
back upon our Lusitania dead. All sum-
mer long he used that string-now he has
another.
It is all very well to say to Mr.. Wilson's
critics, 'but you want war, then" Sup
pose, however, after months and months
of cringing, of cowardice, of betrayal OF
American honor and lives, there IS nc
peace. What then? Out the window goes
the last semblance of justification of the
Ntoo proud to fight" policy. Mr.. Wilson
will then have failed to escape war by
running away-not even cowardice vii
have availed.
No one realizes this better than Bern
storff. He knows Mr.. Wilson IS going t
make his chief campaign appeal on th'
basis of having kept the peace. He knows
that Mr.. Wilson believes that if Bernstorf
is sent home there will be war. There
fore he has no anxiety-no temptation e
give over manipulation or propagandis
agitation.
Mr.. Wilaon must have peace. His mos
eloquent defenders have abandoned al
other arguments to justify his policies anC
are loudly abusing his critics as men who
would plunge the nation into war. 1t i:
the last ditch and it must be held to the
last moment II there is war after al
that has happened there is an end OF
Mr.. Wilson, his party and his policies
Therefore, Count Won BernstOrff must stay
and will stay-however sharp the tone OF
dispatches inspired at the White Houss
or in the State Department III od.
moments.
Count Won Bernstorf is not responsible
for conditions in Washington. He is TAX
ing things as he finds them and using such
tools as are in his hands. lie has been
trading on the timidity of American
statesmen for months; he has done it with
complete immunity, and he will continue
90 do it with immunity.
As for the effort TO explain away that
EARNED merchantmen" note, why should
Mr.. Lansing attempt it? 1t cannot be ex-
planned except as deliberate bid for
German favors. II announced in specific
terms that the United States was i'm
pressed with German arguments and was
considering reversing It's own policy and
remaking international law.
Bernstorff saw his chance and took IT.
He gave as good as he got by Offering a
new Lusitania bargain. It was for him
a mere dicker-a profitable one, TO be sure,
but dickcr. The bargain was repudated
because it was discovered and public sen
timent was outraged. To cover the re-
treat there was little semi-oficial criti-
cism os Bernstorf- an obvious effort to
simulate strength and initiate iirmness
but it can deceive no one, least Of all