The Sun MONDAY, MAY 8, 1916. SNUBBED AGAIN!

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 699, 8 May 1916, Page 6

The Sun MONDAY, MAY 8, 1916. SNUBBED AGAIN!

When the United Slates demanded from Germany an assurance that the. torpedoing of the Sussex was not the work of a German submarine, the Wilson Administration led its public and the world to believe that it was determined to have the submarine issue decisively settled. The I President and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs refused to be ! hurried in arriving at a conclusion, but, if words go for anything, the temper of the Administration at the time was decidedly against Germany. The President took a firm stand On the question of the submarine policy, and, in effect, went so far that it seemed Germany had only to sink on sight another merchantman to bring about a severance of diplomatic relations with the States. President Wilson was so outspoken, so definite on this point, that when a Note was sent to Berlin insisting that the submarine policy, murderous and illegal as it was, should be discontinued on pain of forfeiting America's friendly relations, it was generally anticipated that Germany j would be forced into the open and j obliged either to yield to American pressure or openly defy the leading neutral nation. President Wilson's ultimatum, on (he face of it, really left the enemy no other alternative. It was such a serious document that the German Chancellor repaired to Imperial Headquarters in order to con Ihe Note over with the Kaiser and the General Staff. The result of that visit and that consultation is a characteristic reply, which, as Ihe New York "Herald" points out, •shows that "on the anniversary of the sinking of Ihe Lusitania, lynch law is still in force on Ihe seas, and the lyncher is still an unrepentant bully." Yel, in face of that opinion —and il sums up Germany's reply very aptly—and the tenor of the Note, we are informed that it is considered practically certain the United Stales will accept Ihe enemy's assurances. Was there ever such a farce? With an amazing effrontery, Germany denies that she has in any way violated international law by her submarine policy, and, | adding insult to injury, she has offered"'! o change that policy only on I the condition of the United States j allying itself with Germany lo raise the British blockade. Impudence and sophistry could scarcely go further, but President Wilson, apparently, is prepared lo pocket the I insult offered American honour, and I satisfy his conscience with another warning lo Germany thai America will become very angry should any j more merchant ships be sunk by | enemy submarines. There is not a ; single concession of value in Ihe i German reply, and if President Wilj son pretends (here is il is only beI cause he dare not back up his own [brave words by appropriate actions. ; He made il public during the exchange of opinions with Germany , over the sinking of Ihe Sussex thai ] if proof of the illegal sinking of that I vessel were forthcoming, a breach I with Germany was practically inevitable. After plain prevarication, Germany has adintted that the Sussex was torpedoed, and not mined I (as she held previously), but as she has promised thai such an incident | will not recur, President Wilson is [content to overlook past broken | pledges, and give Ihe enemy another chance. When the whole of the im-

portant circumstances connected with America's frequent, but futile, protests over the ruthless torpedoing of* merchant ships is considered, the attitude of the Slates becomes more and more inexplicable. But America has been snubbed again—the only reply to the President's ultimatum is a counter-ultimatum, which declares that America must do as Germany wishes in respect to the blockade, or the German submarines will persist in the old policy. Berlin has dictated terms to Washington—is it possible that Washington will abase itself and yield ignominiously once more?