New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
A Protest Sufficient
10 the Editor of The Tribune.

o the Editor OF me Tribune.
Sir: In the interest OF fairness:
In your issue OF this morning, as SUBJ
head over the text Of the German note, you
say: Submarine Pledge to the United States
Regulated" Near the conclusion Of the
note you print, in black faced type, that
the Imperial Government "is now compelled
to continue the fight for existence, again
forced upon it, with the full employment OF
all weapons which it has at its disposal"
When Germany surrendered to the de-
mands Of this country and forwent the use
against her enemies of her most effective
weapon at sea it was distinctly stated IN
the note acceding to the wishes OF the
government of the United States, Of course
in diplomatic. laGgrage, that Germany
while net admitting her course to have been
unjustfed heretofore, would thereafter
order all submarine commanders to observe
the rules of international law as to visit and
search and would otherwise modify her
methods of treatment of merchant vessels
by submarines only upon condition that the
United States required Great Britain and
her allies in the future also to observe the
rules of international law as they were un-
derstood before the commencement OF the
war.
was considered by you and by some other
journals as insulting TO the dignity OF the
United States Some publications went so
far as to contend that the note should be
returned and diplomatic relations forthwith
broken off.
Long prior to the sinking of the Sussex
our State Department had protested to
England upon the subject of her so-called
blockade and had not hesitated to say that
the same was illegal. The same attitude,
although not quite so clearly expressed, has
been taken by our State Department as to
Engand's orders in council declaring war
zone and making other rules not JUSTIFIED
by the practice of nations in their relation
with each other, and which interfered Sc
riously with the neutral rights Of this coun'
try and of many other countries which are
not parties TO the war.
The Administration at Washington has
not insisted upon any modification OF Eng
lands unlawful methods.
In going back to the methods pursued
prior to her promise to the United States
Germany has simply done what she said she
would do in case England were permitted
to 90 her unlawful way. She has. therefore,
not repudiated her pledge to the United
States she is simply taking advantage OF
condition contained in her note to the
United States and it now appears that. in
inserting that condition she took the only
course which adequately protects her against
charge of having broken her premise.
Furthermore, in specifying territory about
Great Britain, France and Italy, within which
the seas will be unsafe for shipping Ger
many is only doing what England did early
in the war when she declared a war zone.
While the war zone declared by Germany is
more extensive than that declared by Eng
land, the principle is precisely the same.
Your correspondent in Washington, in his
news story this morning, states that only
three courses of action open to the
| United States: Cd Recognition of the Ger
man blockade, which, he adds. might quickly
bring serious complications with the Allies.
| f2) A complete backdown of the American
position taken at the time of the sinking
of the Sussex and in other Wilson notes TO
Germany. 90 Breaking off diplomatic ne
gotiations with the German Empire alto
! pether, which would almost certainly mean
war with Germany.
| 1t is respectfully suggested that the Ad-
ministration at Washington might take the
same attitude toward the so-called German
| blockade that il has taken toward the paper
! blockade of Great Britain against Germany.
The Administration may protest and call
attention to the ilegality Of the blockade,
and then permit Germany to ignore the pro-
test II the Allies make any objection to
this course on the part Of the United States,
this government has only TO point 70 the
fact that similar protest by this country TO
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