East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-12-22

I Halfway mission the FaliToaul
Mail Rates. are now striving I,
boost their charge foI
carrying mail They do not claim
that this should be done because OF
the war but on account OF the parcels
POST In other words they think the
rate should be increased because the
business has become much better
than formerly. Il is said that there
were SOO.000.O00 parcels post pack
ages carried during the last year and
this convinces most all the railroad
serving newspapers that the rates
should be increased. Yet the govern
ments business is less bulky than il
was because in former days all mail
matter consisted OF newspapers or
letters whereas merchandise is now
commonly sent through the mail and
merchandise is generally heavier in
proportion to space occupied. than
newspapers or letters. Therefore the
transportation Of mail should be more
profitable for the railroads than for
merly. II they can get their rates
advanced on account Of the parcels
post there will be some hope for that
old story about the moon being made
OF green cheese.
The Latin-American republic,
through their representatives recent
ly at Washington. took
The Rights what bids fair TO be a
or NeutraIs. far-reaching step in in
tern a tional history,
when they insisted on the rights of
neutrals as against the rights OF bel
ligerents.
The action grew. Of course, out Of
the energy displayed by the war ves-
sells Of European nations in Latin
American waters during the past few
weeks. The countries TO the south Of
Us have been sorely embarrassed and
perplexed by the problems presented
of preserving their neutrality and al
the same time not offending powers
with the ability TO exact drastic repris-
ala Men-of-war Of England, Ger
many and France have cruised and
battled up and down both ocean
coasts, and they have not always been
scrupulous TO observe technicalities in
the regulations as to coaling, provis-
ioning. handling Of contraband, etc.
The natural result was a protest of
the Latin-American republics to the
United States and tentative action by
this country looking to the circum-
scription of zone of activities on part
OF the fighting nations.
Previous history has laid down the
precedent that the neutral had few
rights deserving recognition unless the
neutral were capable Of enforcing
them. And today the Latin-American
republics find themselves in the po-
sition Of having their trade relations
semi-paralyzed and their immediate
future made uncertain, for the very
simple reason that they are unable
to command observance Of their re-
quests from the belligerents.
The United States. so far as that is
concerned, has known and now knows
what it is to suffer financial loss
through Europe's disregard OF its
rights as a neutral. The question Of
getting commerce out Of the country,
either to Europe or to South Amer
lea, and Of arranging the terms Of ex-
change, have been complicated by the
assumption on the part Of the powers
at war ludL lutlE lloubitS ApDh ilshA
OF way and the interests Of neutral
powers. even of the United States
came a bad second.
II would be a salutary chapter If
this present war would establish that
the neutral had some enforceable
rights. that the nations minded to
tend their knitting and keep the peace
should be disturbed to the minimum
by the nations with the desire to
smash in each others heads. In
times like these. however, when old
standards are being shaken to their
it is doubtful II We shall
be able to achieve anything so pro-
sale as a sharp definition Of the rights
OF neutrals.-AtlantaC Constitution
SSS$OSS~~