Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-01
The Subm arine Issue in Prospect


There are foreshadowings of another troublous
turn in the submarine issue. Ten of recent
U-boat activity which to be in violation of
Germany's pledges and one of4which involves the
loss of American lives are giving the State Depart
ment keen concern. From Berlin comes semi
official press dispatch broadly limiting that "a
period of complications again may be impending
in German-American relations" 1t is known that
Germany is building submarines rapidly and 1t is
suspected that she contemplates another EFFORT
more violent and radical than before, to cut Eng
land off from food supplies. Indeed, her undersea
war on British shipping has been renewed with
such vigor and effectiveness in the last month or
so that England is plainly disturbed. The nets
and mines and patrol boats which at one time were
supposed to have settled the problem of defense
against submarines no longer suffice. Other means
and methods of protection may be devised, but
meanwhile the U-boat menace is Enthusiastically
alive again.
The United States Government is interested
only to the extent of protecting American rights
and of standing up for the principles of law and
humanity which, the one great neutral nation,
1t is bound to defend. But these interests are of
tremendous import So long as Germany fights in
accordance with the code OF civilized warfare and
respects the rights of neutrals, our Government
will have no protest to make; but to violations of
that code and of those rights the United States
cannot Indifferent, especially when the lives of
it's own citizens concerned
There can be no further argument what this
Government stands for and what 1t will insist upon
It's position has been defined and emphasized
through long months of negotiation in which
American patience wore almost to the breaking
point Germany knows precisely what terms
she can maintain friendly relations with the
he Drin houo hoo
threshed out. The important questions and
henceforth are questions of fact not what sub
marine ought or ought not to do in delivering an
attack but what 1t does do. That Is the basis on
which the ten cases now before the Department of
State are being investigated. Germany is asked to
give the circumstances in each case they were
reported by the submarine commander; and
should it be proved that there was a willful viola
ton of Germany's pledges, violation which the
German Government ordered or countenances
there would ensue almost of necessity breaking
off of diplomatic relations.
The German reply to last note in the Sus-
sex case contained this declaration:
"In accordance with the general principles
of visit and search and the distraction of
merchant vessels recognized by interna-
tional law, such vessels, both within and
without the declared a zone shall
not be sunk without warning and without
saving human lives, unless the ship attempts
to escape or to offer resistance"
If Germany lives up to that promise, which is no
more than a promise to conform to international
law and to the principles of humanity, rela-
tions with her will remain peaceful. That the
conservative statesmen of the Empire wish that
to be the case, we have good reason to believe.
The danger lies in uprush of the radical element
or in a wave of popular madness, either OF which
may come as .Gefmany's lean winter deepens