New-York tribune., 1916-02-16
Threats Without Deeds
Let Germany SIay at Will

As to the policy of threatening
words without deeds.
when Germany gave notice OF her
purpose 10 sink merchant vessels on
the high seas without safeguarding the
lives Of innocent passengers our gov
ernment replied, on the 10th OF Febru-
airy, one year ago, IN the following
words:
"'The Government Of the United
States feels IL TO be its duty
10 call the attention of the Imperial
German Government, with sincere re-
spect and the most friendly sentiments,
but very candidly and earnestly, TO the
very serious possibilities OF the course
OF action apparently contemplated un-
der that proclamation.
"'The Government Of the United
States views those possibilities with
such grave concern that it feels it to
be its privilege, and indeed its duty in
the circumstances, to request the I'M
perial German Government TO consider
before action is taken the critical sit
uation in respect Of the relations be-
tween this country and Germany which
might arise were the German naval
forces. In carrying out the policy fore
shadowed in the Admiralty's proclams-
tion. to destroy any merchant vessel
Of the United States or cause the death
Of American citizens.
Deplorable Situation.
a. II such a deplorable situ-
alton should arise, the Imperial Ger
man Government can readily appreci-
ate that the Government Of the United
States would be constrained to hold
the Imperial German Government to q
strict accountability for such acts Of
their naval authorities and TO take any
steps il might be necessary TO take 20
safeguard American lives and property
and 10 secure 70 American citizens the
.ull enjoyment Of their acknowledged
rights on the high seas
"By all the usages and traditions OF
diplomatic intercourse those words
meant action. They informed Germany
in unmistakable terms that in attack
ing and sinking vessels of the United
States and destroying the lives of Ameri-
can citizens lawfully travelling upon
merchant vessels of other countries she
would act al her peril. They pledged
the power and courage OF America, with
her hundred million people and her
vast wealth, to the protection OF her
citizens, as during all her history
through the days OF her youth and
weakness she had always protected
them.
"On the 2sth Of March the passenger
steamer Falaba was torpedoed by 4
German submarine, and an american
citizen was killed, but nothing was
done. On the 2Sth Of April the Ameri-
can vessel Cushing was attacked and
crippled by German aeroplane. On
the lst of May the American vessel
Gulfiight was torpedoed and sunk b. a
German submarine, and two or more
Americans were killed, yet nothing was
done On the 7th of May the Lusitania
was torpcdoed and sunk by a German
submarine, and more than one hundred
Americans and eleven hundred other
nOn-cOmbatants were drowned. me
very thing which our government had
warned Germany she must not do Ger
many did Of set purpose and in the
most contemptuous and shocking way.
"Then, when all America was stirred
20 the depths, our government ad-
dressed another note TO Germany. Il
repeated its assertion OF American
rights and renewed its bold deciara-
tion of purpose. 1t declared again that
the American government must hold
the imperial German government to a
strict accountability for any infringe
mont of those rights, intentional or in
cidental, and 1t declared that il would
not omit any word or any act neces-
fary to the performance Of its sacred
duty Of maintaining the rights OF the
United States and its citizens and Of
safeguarding their free exercise and
enjoyment