New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-31

,,oNerful Latin-Ameriean countries
have been APPROACHED on the suolee'
ond have agreed TO second the state
Department in any measures II may
undertake to Safeguard the Interests
&c humanity" in this respect
First Condition Filled.
II is said here 20 be practically GER
-, ,Lat Great britain and her Allies
,,,;lI rot accent the Presidents proposed
r,nSns vivendi. As they sec II, i 10
rureIv n device 20 assist President WI
SON 70 obtain his muoh-needed victory
ovcr Germany. President wilson, ~ IL
declared. has given Germany what was
demanded as the first condition OF
paper victory. It,
when all the enemy ships are as
armed there will be no limit 10 oeI
manys Submarine operations, eNoep'
those of a purely military character
C. Io,c as Germany can continue 10
n,oducs submarines faster than they
are DESTROYED or captured by britisn
and French cruisers submarine warfare
can proceed on q scale undreamed OF
when the Iusitania was sunk. 1t Is onlS
th, dread Of possible concealed
weanon that now hampers submarines
,u their operAtions and forces them
either 70 operate at so great distance
that their aim Is uncertain and 'he
chances for escape by fight good, or 70
torpedo without warning. IL is because
OF this fear Of gunhre, diplomats here
believe. that the toll OF merchant ships
in the Mediterranean has been COM
paratively negligible lately. g..
As the Allied governments see IL,
President Wilson can have no excuse
for his tampering with international
custom, excort that already gwen
namely. 10 make il possible for Der
many 70 disavow the Lusitanla attack
without real sacrifice. But for this the
President must himself have seen that
II was distinctly outside his province 70
discuss a point OF international Ia"
with the beligerents, and psrtleularly
20 threaten notifications IN ~ before
concrete case had been presented III
which this government was factor
Marks New Departure.
SECRETARY Lansing has IN the past
;,sis.ed that il was not the province or
The State Department TO deal WIN
"bvnothetical" or academic questions
hu. 70 deal with cases as they arse &C
cording 70 the merits Of each case. IL
ie rlain. therefore, that the present AZ
.o-1n. 20 nullifv the safeguards wisely
tbrown about peaceful shipping IN the
mast IS not only purely gTatuitous' OUT
contrary 10 the traditions Of American
diplomacy, as interpreted by the sa'nih-
Thr first effect, therefore, OF the
presi6or+'s Humanitarian" IS 20 make
anv svictorv" obtained over Germany
emptv and meaningless. Had the Fresl.
don't announced this new doctrine last
Nav there would never have been q
Iusitania controversy, as germany
would have been quick 10 disavow the
nt.ack. on the plea that the submarine
Commander violated instructions IN 'oi
nedoinC an unsrmed vesse! "ithou'
Summing up the whole situation,
critic OF the Presidents course saio 70
M Wilson has failed in his efforts
to oct satisfaction for the Lusitahla. ~
;s Slain that either Germany must give
~ or the United States must give IN or
tbsre will be q light Mr.. wilson, oe-
snite his recent amendments 70 the
eneech az Philadelphia. is sun 700
rroud 70 ight ana has chosen Ta'nteI
10 give in. Having failed 90 sett5e .ne
affair on the terms he c.clsteu -
Nav. he has agreed 20 settle ~ o" one
terms Germany dictated le" o"S'
later. ~, ,-ivendi
benefts directly nobody but Germany Blls
I. henefits indirectly nobody put res
dent Wilson. j. is hard 70 lInAsII I.o
what better evidence IS needed 20 pIoNS
that Mr.. Wilson's new policy Is olC'~'e0
from the German Embassy.