The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-07

hague conventions ana Oh all 8AllJl8E
international actions was to put q stop
to such misconduct in the future.
At the outset / ask our people to
remember that what say II based on
the assumption that we are bound in
good faith to fulfill our treaty Obliga-
tons; that we will neither favor nor
any other nation except on
the ground Of it's behavior: that we
feel as much good will to the people
OF Germany or Austria az to the people
of England, of France or of Russia:
that we speak for Belgium only as we
could speak for Holland or Switzer-
land or one of the Scandinavian or
Balkan nations: and that il the cir
cumstances as regards Belgium had
been reversed we would have protest.
ed as emphatically against wrong ac-
ton by England OF France as we now
protest against wrong action by Ger
many.
The United States and all the great
powers now at war were parties to the
international code created In the 'regu-
lations annexed 20 The Hague conven-
tions of 1899 and 1907. AS president.
acting on behalf Of this government.
and in accordance with the unanimous
wish Of our people, I ordered the
signature OF the United States to these
conventions. Most emphatically
would not have permitted such farce
to have gone through il it had entered
my head that this government would
not consider Itself bound to do all 1t
could to see that the regulations to
which it made itself a party were
actually observed when the necessity
for their observance arose. cannot
imagine any sensible nation thinking 1t
worth while to sign future Hague con-
ventiOns il even such q powerful neu-
trail as the United States does not care
enough about them to protest against
their open breach. OF the present
neutral powers the United States of
America is the most disinterested and
the strongest. and should therefore
bear the main burden of the response
bility in this matter.
1t is quite possible to make an argu-
ment to the effect that we never
should have entered into The Hague
conventions, because our sole duty is
to ourselves and Eot to others, and
our sole concern should be to keep
ourselves at peace. at any cost. and
not to help other powers that are ops
pressed. and not to protest against
wrongdoing. I do not myself accept
this view; but in pl actice 1t is the view
taken by the present administration,
apparently with at the moment the
approval of the r:ass of our people.
Such a policy, while certainly not ex-
allied, and in my judgment neither far
sighted nor worthy of a high spirited
and lofty souled nation, is yet in a
sense understandable, and in a sense
defensible.
Declares Wilson's Position Absurd.
But 1t is quite indefensible to make
agreements and not live up to them. The
climax of absurdity is for any admins
tration to do what the present administra-
ton during the last three months has
done. Mr.. Wilson's administration has
shirked doing the duty plainly imposed
on it by the obligations OF the conven-
tons already entered into; and at the
same time it has sought TO obtain CHEAP
credit by entering into a couple OF score
new treaties infinitely more drastic than
the old ones, and quite impossible OF hon
est fulfillment. When the Belgian people
complained of violations Of The Hague
Tribunal it was a mOckery, 1t was q
timid and unworthy abandonment OF duty
on our part, for President Wilson to re-
fer them back to the Hague Court, when
he knew that the Hague Court was less
than a shadow unless the United States
by doing it's clear duty gave the Hague
Court some substance. II the Hague con-
preston Of feeble aspirations toward
decency, uttered only in time OF profound
peace, and not to be even expressed above
q whisper when with awful bloodshed and
suffering the conventions were broken,
then it was idle folly TO enter into them.
If, on the other hand, they meant any
thing, If the United States had q serious
purpose, a serious sense of its obligations
to world righteousness, when it entered
into them, then its plain duty as the uus-
tee OF civilization is to investigate the
charges solemnly made as to the viola
ton Of the Hague Conventions II SUCH
investigation is made, and II the charges
prove well founded, then it IL the duty OF
the United States to take whatever &C
ton may be necessary to vindicate the
principles of international law set forth in
these conventions.
1 am not concerned with the charges Of
individual atrocity. The prime fact IL
ever, and yet that her territory has been
invaded and her people subjugated. This
prime fact cannot be left out OF cons-dera-
ton in dealing with any matter that has
occurred in connection with it. Her neu-
trality has certainly been violated, and
this is a clear violation of the fundamen'
tai principles Of the Hague conventions
1t appears clear that undeIended towns
have been bombarded. and that towns
which were defended have been attacked
with bombs at a time when no attack wal
made upon the defense. This is certainly
in contravention Of the Hague Agreement,
forbidding the bombardment of undefend
ed towns. Illegal and excessive contribu
tons are expressly condemned under
these article do not forbid the levyins
OF such sums as SO, 600 from Brussels
and $50 100000 from the Province OF Bra
bant. then the articles are "a absolutely o,,.els
forbid the infliction Of collective pen
atty. pecuniary or otherwise. on a pop
| ulat1on on account OF acts Of individual
for which 1t cannot be regarded as col
| lectively responsible. Either this proh1bi
| ton is meaningless. or it prohibits jus
such acts as the punitive destruction o
Wise, Louvain, Aerschot and Dinant. Fur
! thermore. a great deal of the appalling
devastation OF Central and East Contra
| Belgium has been apparently terrorizini
and not punitive in its purpose, and this i
explicitly forbidden by the Hague conven
tons.
| "Scraps'' to Amuse Predetermined.
sNov, it may be that there is an ex
PLANTATION and justification for a portion o
conventions mean anything. and IL bas
| faith in the observation of treaties is no
| to be treated with cynical indifference
then the United States government shoul'
| inform itself as to the facts, and should
| at least put itself on record in reference
| thereto. The extent to which the action