New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
Wilson Lets Serious Sub
marine Situation Slip
Out of Sight
GERMANY ADOPTS
FRIVOLOUS COURSE
No Reparation or Apology
in the Marina and
Arabia Cases
prm n. r4Sups survtu.l

Washington, Jan. 6.-During the
peace negotiations" President VIII
son, as The Tribune foretold, has let
tbs very serious submarine situation
slip out OF sight. The State Depart
ment has presented to Germany con
elusive proof that both the Marina
and the Arabia we're sunk without the
shadow Of an excuse, and, although
six American lives were lost on the
Marina, there has been not even an
apology from Germany and no action
by the United States.
High officials of the government
have declared that the American CAGE
is complete, and that they see no loop
hole through which Germany can es-
cape. Further than this, the German
governments first defence that the
vessels were transports has been
shown TO be entirely without founda-
ton, like the explanation OF the Sus-
sex attack.
The Marina was sunk, without
warning, October 2S. ten weeks ago.
Germany admitted the essential facts
on December l. On December 20 the
United States forwarded 70 Germany
all the facts, controverting the Ger
man statement as to the character OF
the vessel and sweeping away the
whole German defence.
Same Procedure in Arabia Case
The same procedure has been fol
lowed with regard 70 the Arabia, sunk
November 6. The German defence
was identical, and was demolished in
the same way.
Ten DAYS ago Berlin dispatches said
"the German government had received
the State Departments facts owing 20
these sinkings, but was uncertain as
to the use the American government
expected It 10 make of them"
This statement is understood 20
have been made to Charge Grew IN
Berlin, who presumably forwarded II
20 the State Department.
The purpose OF the state Depart
ment IN forwarding the information
TO Berlin, IL was said to-day, was to
give Germany an opportunity to make
q new statement which would cover
the situation. The facts spoke for
themselves, and il was expected the
German government could draw its
own conclusions.
The German official attitude, as out
lined in the Berlin reports. is regarded
as distinctly offensive. The German
government has apparently adopted a
frivolous attitude toward the subma-
rine cases, but there are no indications
that President Wilson is considering
the consequences that this attitude may
have for the United States.
Reparstion Is Withheld
Germany has said that if the Msrinn
was sunk illegally reparation would be
offered, but even this is being withheld.
President Wilson, in his Sussex note,
said clearly that reparation, or even
disavowsl, would not be sufficient in
the future, but that another violation
of American rights would be followed
by a rupture in relations.
Neither at the State Department nor
at the German Embassy is there any
apparent concern, though in both places
it must be realized that either the
United States and Germany have come
20 the parting Of the ways or that
President Wilson has decided TO aban-
don definitely the position he took
after the Sussex outrage.
Meanwhile the LusitSnia case con-
tinues in ststu quo. Just before cleo