Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-06

situation enters into a second phase, the
development OF which viii depend Ger
l. man performance.
TNHE ultimatum contained in the American
Il note of April 10 was as follows:
Unless the Imperial Government should
now Immediately declare and effect an
abs lonment OF It's PRESENT METHODS
of ubmarlne warfare against passenger
ana frelght-carryng vessels the Govern
ment Of the United states can have no
choice but to sever diplomatic relations with
the German Empire altogether.
stripped Of the verbiage intended for home
consumption, the essence of the German
answer to that demand is found in the instruc-
| tions issued to submarine commanders, as
! follows:
In accordance with the general principles
OF visit, search and destruction of merchant
vessels recognized by international law.
such vessels both WITHIN AND WITH
OUT THE AREA DECLARED A NAVAL
| WAR ZONE shall not he sunk without
warning and without saving human lives,
| unless ships attempt to escape or offer re.
| sstarce.
| In considering whether not this Is a suf1i-
| cient answer 1t is well to recolleot that the
| operations within the war zone ha been
| those against which our protests have been
directed. The note of April 10 was devoted,
| in large part to a discussion of outrages
within the war zone. we quote:
No limit of any kind has, in fact. been
set to their (submarines) indiscriminate
pursuit and destruction Of merchantmen of
all kinds and nationalites WITHIN THE
WATERS WHICH THE IMPERIAL GOV
ERNMENT HAS CHOSEN TO DESIGNATE
AS LYING WITHIN THE SEAT OF WAR
The war zone las been the very crux of the
problem, because the whole purpose of the
declaration of that zone was to relieve sub
marines Of any legal restrictions whatever
and clothe them with limitless authority to
work their will 1t has been in the war zone
that fragrant violations OF neutral rights have
occurred
The determination of the German Govern
ment, therefore, to apply TO submarines operat-
ing within the war zone the general principles
of international law, is an acceptance in prin-
clple of the American demand. 1t cannot,
however, be considered as finally acceptable
until it has been demonstrated In practice
that the instructions to submarine
manders will be implicitly obeyed, with the
termination of all outrages of the sort which
have injured and sorely tried this nation as
well other neutrals.
NNHE situation, however, is materially af-
i fected by the condition under which Berlin
makes its concession. After discussing the
confidence of the German Government that
the United States would act vigorously now
against certain violations of international law
by Great Britain, the answer says
Should the steps taken by. the United
States Government fail to attain the object
II desires. l. e., to have the laws of hui
manity followed by all begerent nations.
the German Government would then be fac
ing a new situation, in which 1t must re-
serve for itself complete liberty of decision.
This is condition SUBSEQUENT and not
a condition precedent 1t means n compliance
change. presumably after notification, in the
event that future events not to the liking
OF Berlin. The American Government can
afford to accept the compliance, 1t being under
stood, OF course that a notification of re-
sumption of previous illegal submarine actv-
ity would be equivalent to declaration ct
rupture. Germany puts herself on probation.
Had the loosenlng OF the British blockade
been made a condition precedent TO the new
method of submarine activity, break would
be inevitable. II may be that the condition
was added to the note at all only for the
benefit of German readers at home as a sop
to national pride.
ASIDE from the arrogant tone of the answer
"A which indicates the sort of childshness
which often characterizes military regimes,
a striking feature OF the communication is the
reference to peace II is entirely possible that
German public opinion needs to be convinced
at this time that the Kaiser is prepared TO
make peace. even anxious 10 make it. This is
not of itself of great Importance, except as 1t
indicates conviction in Germany that high
tide in German aggression has been reached
and that Berlin can get more out of peace
now than she would be likely to get at any
subsequent time. Taken in connection with
the change in the Lloyd betting, which favors
peace within the calendar year 1t is significant
OF the thought which is beginning 10 dominate
the European mind, namely. that the cost OF
the war has become too staggering and that
some means for its cessation must be found,
The crisis has not passed. It has moved
into another phase which may take months
to develop, the condition OF which viii depend
solalv ON the LOYALTY with which the GArman