The Washington herald., 1916-05-06
Conditional Promises and a Vague
Concession From Germany.

factory. Inc note rs eVaSlVe, as all conmunlca-
tions from Berlin are, and seeks, by extraneous
discussion to subordinate the indictment brought
against Germany and to avoid squarey meeting
an issue squarely presented to the imperial gov
ernment. The note actually marks but narrow
step of progress, and yet the promise which it
makes, rather reiterates, appears to place our
government in the position of being compelled
to wait for time to tell whether the promise is
this time to be kept; unless, indeed, Washington
should regard the implied condition involving the
British blockade, which qualities the PROMISE as
Unacceptable and promptly present a new de-
mand for pledge without condition or reserve.
Should Washington make such demand but
| be content to wait and see whether Germany,
having declared" an abandonment of its present
method OF submarine warfare, will comply with
| the rest of our terms and "effect" such an aban-
denment, the threatened break in diplomatic rela-
! tions is not to be regarded as imminent.
Not even the most generous construction of
the note would justify verdict that it is salts
factory 1t refers to Germanys decision to make
a further concession" and yet a careful reading
of it fails to disclose any such concession unless
the order which it is announced has been given
to the German naval forces may be interpreted
as applying to enemy freight ships encountered
IN the surrounding Great Britain" con-
cerning which, it is studiously emphasized, no as
surance to method Of attack has ever been
given to the United States. Presumably there
! fore the term merchant ships" in the order to
the German naval forces contemplates the in
cusion of these enemy freighters. That this con-
stitutes the sole further concession" must be
concluded, since Germany has more than once
pledged itself to the United States not to attack
passenger ships without safeguarding the lives of
] thOS
broken pledge to enemy freighters, therefore,
represents the total OF Germanys conces-
sions in reply to President Wilson's uItimatum;
and even that concession is made conditional
upon the success of this governments negotia-
tions with another power in the direction OF
curtaillng the sea power of the allies to give
strength to the German arms
In ntimating that the continued observance
| of her pledge will be conditional upon the aban-
donment of the British blockade Germany takes
an unreasonable and untenable position. while
leaving much to conjecture. 1t is not made
clear whether, in the event the blockade is not
discontinued, all promises old and new are to
be disregarded and the naval forces ordered to
attack vessels ruthlessly and ndiscrminately, or
whether Germany will merely withdraw her new
pledge to enemy freighters This, however,
! is scarcely important, as it is highly improbable
| once
refused, will consent to make anv agree
ment with Germany conditional upon the out
| come of any negotiations with Great Britain
The hope that Berlin will ever admit that there
IS difference between the murder of women
and children and the interference with the move
ment of commerce must be abandoned For the
purposes of German diplomacy they must re-
main crimes of equal magnitude, though in the
United States still place a higher valuation
upon the lives of women and children than
upon bales of cotton
The British blockade is not at issue. and we
have not to account to Germany for its effective
ness upon which its legality depends The
blockade is recognized the world oyer as legal
method Of warfare. The United States made use
CT it in the civil war though it has not been
claimed that it sufficiently effective to make
1t strictly legal 1t wins by the comparatively
humane process of starvation, from which there
is always way OF escape by surrender, while
IN the case Of a submarine attack without warn
ing no such alternative is offered.
But the ultimatum Of the United States did
not concern itself with blockade or detention Of
commerce. Its demand was that "the IMPERIAL
German government should now immediately
declare and effect abandonment of its present
methods of warfare against passenger and freight
carrying vessels" and if this demand was not
complied with, then the United States could
have mo choice but to sever Diplomatic reIa
tions altogether" The imperial German govern
ment has declared" with proviso; if it fails
IN any instance to EFFECT" such failure regard
less OF conditions or excuses must of itself bring
the penalty prescribed if our utimatum is to be
rrade good. As the German note is so suo-
gestlve-perhaps purposely so--of a confused
state OF mind in Berlin it is not impossible that
President Wilson may deem it advisable to notifv
the imperial government that continuance of
friendly relations depends upon single condi-
tlon that is wholly within the control of Ger
many and that this governments threatened
action must inevitably and Immediately follow
the first failure to comply with it.
Aside from consideration of the issue in which
the United States is involved the note conveys
sharply the impression that Germany finds her
self IN sore straits The bold front of her
oipIomatS tails utterly to conceal the yearnng
! Tor peace that possesses the nation There is
an appeal to the world in the en7nbas;s 41. :;