Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-05
KA|SER'S REPLY FAILS To FIT
CONVENTIONS OF PRESIDENT:
DIPLOMATIC SPLIT FORECAST
REVIEW AMERICAN
AND GERMAN NOTES

diplomatic correspondence with the
United States on the submarine issue
has extended over nearly a year. All
along President Wilson has spoken
primarily for the inviolable rights of
Americans and generally for the rights
of neutrals.
Submarine warfare did not actually
enter the realm of diplomacy until the
destruction of the Lusitania. The &C
emulation of cases affecting Ameri-
cans was t"ken up in the first note to
Germany, which was dispatched May
Is, 1915. 1t characterized the attacks
on the Falaba, Gushing, Bulflight and
Lusitania as series of events which
the United States has observed with
growing concern, distress and amaze
ment"
The note closed with these words:
THE imperial German government
will not expect the government of the
United States to omit any word or act
necessary to the performance of it's sa-
cred duty of maintaining the rights of
the United States and it's citizens and
of safeguarding their free exercise and
judgment"
May 28, 1915, Germany replied with
note which was in every respect I'M
| satisfactory The note met none of
the contentious of the United States so
| far as the Lusitania and Falaba sink
| ings were concerned, although a sup
Elementary note later did acknowledge
| that Germany was wrong in the at
tacks on the Cushing and the Gulf
light, 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. He resigned be-
cause he thought he could not sign the
next note to Germany, which he feared
would lead the United States into war.
Lansing Takes Issue.
| Secretary Lansing took Office as Mr..
Bryan's successor and his reply to the
German note took issue with every
contention that the Lusitania was
armed or was to be treated as other
than a peaceful merchant ship and re-
minded 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 it has incurred in this trag-
ic occurrence and to the indisputable
principle upon which that responsible
ity rests" The note averred that the
declaration of a submarine war zone
could not abbreviate the rights of
Americans on lawful journeys
To that note Germany did not reply
until July s and the German rejoiner
was preponderately characterized by
American newspapers, not as note,
but as an address by Foreign Minister
Won Jagow to the American people In
official circles it was said to come no
nearer to meeting the American con-
tentions than did the former German
note.
The nature of the reply was regard
ed officially as convincing evidence
that Germany was holding the nego-
tiations as a club over the United
States to force this government into
some action to compel Great Britain
to relax the food blockade.
President Wilson steadfastly refused
to permit the diplomatic negotiations
of the United States with one bellig-
erent to become entangled> with the
relations with another.
America Disappointed.
To that the United States replied on
July q that the German note failed TO
meet the real differences between the
two governments" The United States,
it declared, was "keenly disappointed
with Germany's attitude. Submarine
attacks without warning endangering
Americans and other neutrals were
characterized as illegal and inhuman"
and 'manifestly indefensible" 1t de-
clared that the United States would
continue to contend for the freedom Of
the seas from whatever quarter vio-
lated. without compromise and at any
costs"
The negotiations at this point
seemed to have come to such an i'm
passe that the exchanges of notes be-
tween Washington and Berlin were
stopped and that controversy was
brought into the realm of informal
conversations" between Secretary
Lansing and Count Won Bernstorff, the
German ambassador. II was thought
that much could he accomplished by
personal contact which was lost in a
cold exchange Of documents.