New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-28
"Crises" with Germany.


cry of "crisis" in our relations with
Germany. The faithful press agents OF
the Administration renew the prediction,
now almost worn 10 a frazzle, that Am
bassador Won Bcrnstorff is to be ordered
home.
Tomorrow. since no Americans appear
to have been killed on the Sussex, the pre-
diction will probably be hauled in again
for repairs. 1t was not Germany's fault
that any Americans escaped. The lnten-
ton to murder them was there, even II
Providence stepped in and ordered an eX-
ception for the benefit Of Mr. Wilson's
long suffering diplomacy. 1t will now be
safe TO say that had any Americans been
slaughtered the Administration would
have shown the skeptics in Berlin and
elsewhere what its famous "strict ac-
countabilty" pronunciamento was really
meant to mean. But now-wcll, 1t would
be impolite to rebuff Count Won Bernstorff'
if he offers regrets and apologies. And
the country will have to wait until another
incident" arises to see what the Presl-
dent is really capable of when he forgets
himself far enough to begin translatlng
into actually his typewriter dctum about
"omitting no word or act
Before il was discovered that no Amerl-
can lives had been lost on the Sussex there
was some talking in Administration circles
pretty nearly as reckless as were the high
spot messages i'm the Lusitanla notes
THE World" for instance, was moved to
say: "a question to be considered very
seriously by this country and all other
neutrals having self-respect IS whether
anything is to be gained by maintaining
any longer the CHASTITY pretence Of friend
" diplomatic correspondence with power
VIGOROUSLY lacking in truth and honor
In.its excitement our friend forgot that
it might be adjudged, by its own stand
ards, as descending to "copperheadism' in
thus rejecting on the Administrations still
unbroken policy of offering Germany the
other cheek. Yet there is much point in
its query. rs there anything to be
gained?" Has there ever been anything
to be gained by refusing to live up to
the demands made in the Lusitania cor
respondence and in the earlier "war zone
ultimation of February, 1915?
We told Germany over a year ago what
we should do in case her illegal submarine
warfare cost a single American life. We
failed utterly to do what we said we were
going to do when the murder Of the
American victims on the Lusitana put US
to the test. President Wilson has been
trying ever since the Lusitania was sunk
to dodge the necessity Of making brave but
insincere words good.
HAS anything been gained by 1t. Any
thing to enhance the nations honor It's
self-respect or its true welfare? The VIII
son policy Of avoidance and trucking has,
on the contrary, plunged the country into
the depths of humiliation and international
contempt Senator Lodge undoubtedly ut
tered the judgment Of posterity when he
said the other day that no other President
but Buchanan had ever lowered the ma
tional prestige Of the United States a
much as President Wilson has lowered 1t.
What is to be gained by adding one
"crisis" with Germany TO another "crisls =!
The list of "crises" is almost too long to be
recalled. Why drag it out further, each
new case being weakened by the impossi-
bility Of getting a German admission of
responsibility? Germany can pass respon-
sibility in the Mediterranean along to
Austria-Hungary or Turkey. In the
North Sea she can say that any vessel
sunk with Americans aboard her was he
victim not Of torpedo but of a mine.
1t is farce TO keep on seeking grounds
for breaking off diplomatic relations with
Germany in new sea murders, in new
violations Of American rights and inter
national law. We have in the Lusitanla
massacre the strongest possible case
against Germany. She has admitted that
a German submarine sank the big liner.
She has refused for nearly eleven months
TO disayow the crime and to give assur-
ances that it will not be repeated. 1t is
still being repeated Why, then, not 20
back 10 our first, great unsatsfied griev-
ance? The others are mere echoes Of that
overshadowing tragedy.
We have had occasions without end 10
break with Germany on the Lusitania
case. We have received so far no ade-
Quate satisfaction for the injury done us
no offer Of satisfaction which the Admin
istration dares 70 accept on behalf Of the
American people.
IL we are 70 break of relations with
Germany let US at least break them off on
the case which stands out boldest in the
\ record, on which our shame has been mos,
hagrant and our national feeling has been
most aroused
To quarrel over the Sussex or some SINH
lar case while still condoning the Lusi.
tsnia, would be an ant-climax unthink.