Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-06
Keeping the Peace-for a Time

- ERMANH'S answer to President Wilson r
VI demand for suspension of submarine
barbarities Is counterdemand that this coun-
try require the allies to keep within the
bounds of international law. Make Eng
land stop Selling your goods says the Ger
man note in substance, "and we shall stop
Staying your citizens. If you fail, the Ger
man government would be facing new sit
uaton, in which it must reserve to itself
complete liberty Of decision.
1t Is true this is not the sequence of the
German proposals Berlin declares 1t has
instructed its submarine commanders TO fol-
low for the time the rules Of visit and search
and to destroy merchant vessel without
warning and without saving human lives. 1t
makes the continuance OF this policy DEEPEN
dent, however, on the institution and success
of American negotiations with the allied
powers. If these negotiations fail, the Ger
man note. by necessary implication, proclaims
a purpose to revive in all their savagery those
practices that have Redeemed the with
innocent blood.
1t is the same old position, oft-repeated
from Berlin, and as often denied from Wash
ington. We demand the cessation of sub
marine warfare, as now conducted, not be-
cause 1t is injurious to Britain and her allies,
but because it is violative of law and injurious
to ourselves. With our controversy with
England. the German government has no con
Germ. We shall press that controversy. which
also has for its objects the protection of
American and neutral rights. with deter
minaton consistent with our dignity and with
he of A.
the worst, it is matter Of money and money
damages, and such things can wait. No wait
ing and no money, however. will restore life
to one OF those shattered corpses Of Ameri-
can men, women and children that. when the
Lusitania sank, cast OH an alien shore.
Against the inhunanity of a blockade TO
which the German note adverts, the United
States is douby barred from leveling its
criticisms. In the first place. the blockade,
when legally established and maintained, has
the sanction Of centuries Of usage and of
United States government itself, In the War
Between the States. conducted one OF the
crueles, blockadcs in all history However
cruel however morally indefensible. that
blockade was legally justified. Our protest
against the allied measures to prevent i'm
portations into Germany must attack their
form, not their substance. and this only as
formal deficiencies injuriously affect us. With
their effect on Germany we have nothing
to do
| This government can afford TO ignore the
studied insolence of portions of the German
note, OF course it will ignore the suggestion
~, -
| TO make peace, responsibility for the further
prosecution of the war must rest on the AL
| lies The essential and important clause AT
least for the time, is that which CONVEYS
| Germany's promise to obey. in her submarine
campaign. the rules of law and Of humanity
| 1t Will be possible also to ignore. for the time
! the yelled threat by which this promise is
/ accompanied
/ An immediate rupture of diplomatic rela-
! tons is not necessary. An ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Of the receipt Of the German note perha ps
| will suffice That course would have the tao
/ tical advantage OF placing on Germany the
immediate as we'll as the real responsibility
| for the break that would come should the old
/. barbar,ies be resumed.
In the meantime. let us prepare for that
break. for il is nearly inevitable. Squabbling
among the cOnferees on the army bill should
cease. and measure providing the amplest
/ military force the situation admits repor, ed
/ for the concurrence of the Senate and House
The navy bill should be rushed To passage
Construction should be speeded up When
the time comes must be ready
Colonel II, r. IN Nath dict
cierics that when he was President mot one
man. woman or child was slain by rcprese MIA.
tves of any foreign nation" has been OK.
ploded by the New York Evening Post which
gives dates on which humble OF Americans
were slain, while Mr.. Roosevelt was Presi
dent and the Post is prompted TO ask il
these incidents prove that he is an unblush
Ing iiar:' If Mr.. Roosevelt is any sort OF
liar, 1t is of the unblushing brand
-==4=-.=====z=-=.
The yawpers In this country who are ever
lastingly amenting the decadence of Amer
can craftsmanship ought to make study Of
the great minds that are muddling condi
tons in England.
Mayor Mitchell, OF New York. is going int,