Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-05

Germany's diplomatic correspondence
with the United States over the SUD-
ma rine issue has extended over nearly
a year. and has been characterized os
delay. evasion and more than once have
brought the two countries to a pass
where the lone-expected break seemed
unavoidable. All along President Will
son has spoken primarily for the IN
violable rights of Americans, and gen.
orally for the rights of neutra's.
Germany has been restrained pH
powerful public sentiment aroused
against curtailing the effectiveness OF
her best weapon against her enemies
| and President Wilson has been en-
barrassed first by dissension IN the CAP
met and later in Congress and py pro
! German propaganda conducted 'hroush
out the United states.
Submarine warfare did not actuaiiy
enter the realm of diplomacy uIi,i'
after the destruction of the LusitanIa-
The accumulation OF cases aHeesins
note to Germany, which was dlspatcheo
May Is, 1915.
II characterized the attacks on the
Falaba, Cushing, Gulflight and Lusi-
tania as "a series OF events winch .ie
United States has observed with grow
ing concern, distress and amazement-
1t pointed to Germany's hitherto ex
pressed humane and enlightened at.i
tude" in matters Of international right
and EXPRESSED the hope submarine com
manders engaged in torpedong peace
full ships without warning were IN sucn
practices operating without the sane
ton of their government. Inc note
closed with these words:
U. S. Right to Guard Interests.
rfpa n
will not expect the government of the
United States to omit any word Or act
necessary to the performance of its sa
cred duty of maintaining the rights of
the United States and its citizens. and
of safeguarding their free exercise and
enjoyment
on May IS. 1915 Germany replied
with a note which covered a wide range
of argument and was i'll every respect
unsatisfactory. 1t alleged that the
Lusitania had masked guns aboard
that she in effect was British auxil
larry cruiser, that she carried mum
tions of war: that her owning company,
aware of the dangers she rsked in the
submarine war 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 rammed
or destroyed submarines.
The note met none of the contentious
of the United States SO far as the Lusi-
tania and Falaba sinking were con-
cerned, although a supplementary note
later did acknowledge that Germany
was wrong in the attacks on the Cush-
ing and the Gulfiight, expressed regret
for those two cases and promised to
pay damages.
While the American reply to the note
was being framed. dissension in the
cabinet resulted in the resignation OF
Secretary Bryan, who contended for a
policy of warning Americans OF bel
ligerent ships He resigned because
he thought he could not sign the next
note to Germany. which he feared
would lead the United states into war
Secretary Lansing took office as Mr.
Bryans successor and his reply to the
German note took issue with every
contention Germany had set UP in the
Falaba 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 emphasis to call the attention
of the imperial German government to
the grave responsibility which the
government Of the United States con-
ceives that II has incurred in this
tragic occurrence, and to the indisput-
able principle upon which that re-
sponsibility rests"