El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-11-07

clear duty gave the Hague court some
substance If the Hague conventions
represented nothing but the express
sion of feeble aspirations toward de-
cencv uttered only in time of profound
peace and not to be even expressed
above a whisper when with awful
bloodshed and suffering the conven-
lions were broken, then it was idle
folly to enter into them. If, on the
other hand, they meant anything, If the
limited States had a serious purpose,
a serious sense of its obligations to
world righteousness, when 1t entered
into them, then its plain duty as the
trustee of civilization is to investigate
the charges so1emnly made as to the
violation of the Hague conventions. If
such investigation is made, and if the
charges prove well founded, then it is
the duty Of the United States to take
whatever action may be necessary to
vfndicate the principles Of information
al law set forth in these conventions.
Belgium Committed No Offence.
I am not concerned with the charges
Of individual atrOcity. The prime fact
is that Belgium committed no offence
whatever, and yet that her territory
has been invaded and her people sub
jugated. This prime fact cannot be left
out of consideration in dealing with
any matter that has occurred in con-
neCtion with it. Her neutrality has
certainly been violated, and this is in
q
ciples of The Hague conventions. 1t
appears clear that undefended towns
have been bombarded. and that towns
which were defended have been at
tackled with bombs at a time when no
attack was made upon the defence. This
is certainly in COntraVentiOn of The
Hague agreement fOrbidding the bonn
bardment of undefended towns. Illegal
and excessive contributions are ex-
pressly condemned under articles 40
and 50 of the conventions. If these ar
tiCles do not forbid the levyinE of such
sums as 100000, coo from Brussels, and
$50. 100000 from the province of Brabant
then the articles are absolutely mean
ingless. Articles 43 and so explicitly
forbid the inflictiOn of collective pen
atty, pecuniary or otherwise. on a popu-
latiOh on account of acts Of individuals
for which 1t cannot be regarded as col (
lectively responsible. Either this pro-
hibition is meaningless, or it profits :
Just such acts as the punitive deStrUc- :
ton of Wise, Louva1n, AerschOt and }
Llnant Furthermore, a great deal of [
the appalling devastation of central J
md east central Belgium has been ap- /
terrOrizing and not punitive in !
It's purpose. and this is explicitly for ,
hidden by The Hague conventions.
Now, it may be that there is an ex- /
Jlanation and justification for a por-
ion of what has been done. But if The :
Hague conventions mean anything, and /
bad faith IN the observation of treat
es is not to be treated with cynical in
Inference, then the United States gov
eminent should inform itself as to the
acts, and should at least put itself on |
ecOrd in reference thereto. The extent I
% which the action should go may
properly be a subject for discussion. !
But that there should be some action
s beyond discussion unless indeed we
ourselves are content TO take the view
hat treaties, conventions and interna-
lOnal engagements and agreements of
IL kinds are to be treated by us and
" everybody else as what they have /
een authOritatiVely declared to be, !
scraps of paper" the writing on which
5 intended for no better purpose than /
empOrarily to amuse the feeblemindeG.
If the above statements seem in thu
yes of my German friends hostile to |
let me emphasize the fact I
hat they are prediCated upon &. course
f action which if extended and applied
S it should be extended and applied /
7ould range the United States on the
ide Of Germany if any such assault !
-ere made upon Germany as has been 4
lade upon Belgium, or if either Bel !
lum or any of the other allies commit !
ed similar WrongdOing. Many Germans /
Ssert and believe that If Germany had
OF acted as she did, France and Eng 4,
Ind would have invaded Belgium. and
ave committed similar wrongs. In !
UGH case it would have been our clear {
uty to behave towards them exactly
s we ought now to behave towards
ermany. But the fact that other pow
rs might under other conditions do
-rOng, affords no justification for fail
re to act on the wrong that has ac-
lally been committed. 1t must always
e kept in mind. however that We can
OF expect the nation against whose &C
ons we protest to accept our position
s warranted unless we make clear
nat we have both the win and the
over to interfere on behalf of that