PIRATES' REPLY TO AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2766, 9 May 1916, Page 5

PIRATES' REPLY TO AMERICA

UNDERSTOOD TO BE ACCEPTABLE STATEMENT BY MR. LANSING THESE "UNFORTUNATE MISTAKES" By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Washington, May 7. It is understood that President . Wilson will accept Germany's reply. President Wilson is frankly testing tile good faitli of Germany in carrying out the terms of lier undertaking. In an interview, Mr. Lansing said that 'mistakes in submarino warfare were inadmissible. The United States Government might ask Germany to produce her earlier orders to submarine commuders, bo as to comparo them i witli tho new orders.

THE ESSENCE OF THE NOTE j (Rec. May 8, 10.50 p.m.) Washington, May 8. The State Department officials are reticent on the subject of tho Government's intentions in Tegardto Germany, but declaro that the essence of the Note is the_ concession applying tha rules of ( cruiser warfare to submarine warfare. They predict that President Wilson will accept at its face value this declaration, but he will refuse to discuss with Germany any differences between America and Britain. Any German breach will be followed by a prompt.severance of relations. "ARROGANT, INSOLENT, AD INSULTING" PRESS- OPINION ON THE NOTE. Washington, May 7. Tho New York "World" describes Germany's reply as arrogant, insolent, and insulting. America' could not contemplate the suggested alliance with Germany witli a view to'breaking the British blockade. It would be a permanent stain .on America's honour. There is a significant increase in the number'of newspapers demandiug compliance with the laws of humanity. STUPID AND CYNICAL. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun!' Services.) (Rec. May 8, 5.5 p.m.)

' . . London, May 7. 0 i "Times," rin a leading. article, says: ''If the uerman concession stood alone it wouid serve the American de : maud. But it does not stand alone. J-'be reply retakes with ouo hand the concession purported to be granted, with tho otiier attempting to embroil America ■ with the Allies, and claiinihg, it unsuccessful, tbe right to commit unlimited piracy in defence of ,tW freedom of the seas." Referring to Germany's appeal to International Law, tho article says: "With Lou vain, Acrs:hot, Dinant, tho Lusitania and the Arabic, and many more black deeds upon their souls, thoy havo the stupidity and cynicism to invite the Americans to dwell upon our efforts to reduce Germany by "the means" with .which the latter reached Paris in 1871. It is<for President -Wilson and his fellow citizens to judge regarding the sufficiency of this reply to bis las? protest against the German methods of submarino warfare."

f lho "Times's" Washington correspondent says: "Ihere is great tension over the German Note, as is proved by elaborate steps - which are believed to have been taken against the possibility of a 'German uprising oil the lines of the Dublin revolt." In .New.York, where thero are 20,000 German reservists, the police liavo been stengtkciied,' and similar precautions hare been taken elsewhere to guard waterworks 'and railway bridges. It is expected-that if 1 a- break occurs, Germin disloyalty,, disaffection iii Congress, tho pacifists, and the averago man's unwillingness to risk a war will bo engulfed by a wave of patriotic patriotism." The New York correspondent of the United /Press quotes an official statement to the effect that is apparently greatly concerned, and" cannot see any justification for a break. Germany has gone farther than tho earlier reports indicated. An official statement will be forthcoming after President Wilson has digested the text of thaJfote.' The correspondent adds, following a long discussion on the- unofficial text of the Note: "There is no question that the situation is viewed optimistically."

WHO WROTE THE GERMAN REPLY? Amsterdam, May 4. German newspapers state that the Kaiser wrote the entire reply to 'the American Note. The, "Cologne Gazette" says: "Tho Kaiser could not take any other decision than to entrust to us the sacrifice of swallowing our justified anger, and the responsibility for final decision."