Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-06
IS u Substantial ComnIianoe !

With the receipt of the latest German note.
the all-absorbing question becomes, rs il
substantial compliance with the demands EN-
bodied in President Wilson's ultimatum?"
To give this question due consideration, we
must 20 back 10 the original documents. The
pitn Of the presidents pronunclamento to Ger
many Is contained In this declaration;
IT Il IA stln the purpose Of the Imperial govern
ment TO prosecute relentless and ndiscrmiuats
warfare against vessels df commerce by the use Of
submarines without regard to what the government
Of the United states must consider the sacred and in
dsputabe rules Of international law and the unit
veraally recognized dictates OF humanity, the gov.
ernment Of tha United States ~ at last forced 10 ths
conclusion that there Is but one II pursue.
Unless tho Imperial government should now
Immediately declare and effect abandonment Ut
Its present methods of submarine warfare against
passenger and freight carrying vessels the govern.
ment Of tho United states have choice but 10
sever diplomatic relations with the German empire
altogether"
What, In the view OF the United States, are
the sacred and indisputable rules Of interna-
tional law" referred to, was further defined in
the memorandum prepared by Secretary Lam
sing. OF which an official explanation was made
public a few days later:
There must be no attacks without warning upon
merchant ships even II they are armed, unless tho
commander Of the warshp has absolute knowledge
that tho merchantmen Is under mandatory orders
from It's government 20 act extensively, The mere
presence Of armament ship h declared not to
DO such evidence MS would Justify an attack with
warning or without regard 10 the rights Ut per-
sons on board Only when II ID impossible 10 tako
the captured enemy merchantmen into port may It
be sunk, and in such the poraona on board must
be put Ia a place Of safety"
The position OF the German government on
ID al al Ia IN h. ha
new order set forth In the present note as hay-
ing been given to tho German naval forces
In accordance with the general principles Of
visit and search and the destruction Of merchant
vessels recognized by international law. such vessels,
both within and without tho declared n naval
zone, shall not DO sunk without warning and
without saving human lives unless the ship attempt
70 escape or offer resistance"
This order however. II must be observed,
Is not unconditional. Its continuance Ia de-
pendent on the United States In good faith
endeayoring TO require other belgerent
governments TO accept tho principle "of
tho freedom OF the seas" as contended for by
Germany SHOULD steps taken by the govern
ment OF the United States not attain the object
II desires to have the laws OF humanity followed
by all belllgerent nations" says the note. "the
German government would then be facing new
situation in which II must reserve to itself COM
plete liberty Of decision.
We must confess tnat the note is sufficiently
diplomatic to permit of construction one way or
the other, according to bias or desire. The
German sympathizer will surely insist II Ia all
and more than the United States has right to
expect and those favorable to the allies will
deny that II makes any concession worth con-
sidering.
But the president has the last word and
while, perhaps. II is we'll TO wait for the official
communication. he should at all events either
say frankly that the assurance is sufficient and
accepted or recall our ambassador without
further parley. II he accepts the answer as
satisfactory he should follow II up by an asser-
ton of the rights OF neutrals as against all the
belligerents