New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09
NEUTRAL LEAGUE
URGED TO CURB
SEA 0UTLAWRY
United States Should Take
Lead, Putnam Says in
Letter to Wilson.
MANY DENOUNCE
SINKING OF LINER
Prominent Men Indignant, but
Careful Not to EmbarraSS
the President

Various men Of international repu-
tetion characterized the sinking OF the
Iusitania Yesterday as p fragrant vlo-
lstion OF the rights Of the United
States and all other countries with
citizens on board the il-fsted vessel.
Perhans the most vigorous denuncla-
tion O. the German government came
from George Haven Putnam, who de-
clarcd that Germany sought 10 Kali as
many passengers Of the CurGrder as
possible. and suggested league OF
neutral states under the leadership OF
the United States. He addressed an
open letter on this subject yesterday
20 President Wilson.
The league, VT. Putnam said, should
be organized 20 "call 20 strict account
the nation which through repeated
criminal actions has placed Itself out
side the pale OF civilization. Germany
must be made TO realize that the pow
er 10 capture does not and can not
carry with 70 the right 20 kill HIS
letter said, in part:
"The loys. citizens q the United
States are, in this worlds crisis, look
ing 20 their President 10 take the
prompt end decisive measures required
TO maintain the honor and dignity OF
our country. They want 20 fec! assured
that the United States viii fulfil the
obligations that belong 20 II IS the
greatest Of the neutral nations.
Murder. Despite Warning"
"llr. Bidder reminds us this morn
ing. In the Stats ZcIturE,' that due
notice was given Of the risk 70 be IN
CURED, under present war condiuonS'
nv Messengers on the North Atlantic.
W VI. Ia p
possessing full knowledge Of the bar
barous policy Of his government, saw
Fl 20 caution American travellers does
not lessen the responsibility for the
murder Of those travellers.
Jack the Ripper has given notice
that he purposes TO continue ms
slaughter Of the innocents, but this
notice VIII hardly avail. 10 save MN
from the usual penalty for murder.
THE murderous intent OF the as
sailauts Of the Lusitaula IS indicated
BY the fact that, instead Of simply DIS
sbling the vessel, which would nave
given opportunity for saving the pas
sengers, she was struck IN four places
SO that she sank IN few minutes.
"The thoroughness Of the German dis
cipline warrants the conclusion that
not only the attack itself, but the
method nursued, was in accord with
spocifc instruction from the Kaiser.
"The people should have an oppor-
+unitv Of expressing themselves
through their representatives IN Con-
gress. and suggestions for similar &c
ton on the part Of the other neutral
nations should be given al once through
our representatives IN Stockholm
Christiania, Copenhagen and Inc
Hague"
Neutral Rights Violated.
The torpcdoing was vehemen;Iy CON
dcwncd by Ellery c. Stowell, professor
Of international law at Columbia Uni
vcrsftv and associate Of John Bassett
Moore. Professor StoweN is one Of the
ccurtrv's leading authorities on inter
national Jaw. and has attained dlsunc-
ton by his writings on the subject.
lie said:
'Inasmuch as the Lusitania was pur-
suing her peaceful course toward Llv-
erpool, w.thou, attacking the subma-
riuc or otherwise taking the offensive
and was sunk without warning by the
German vessel il was cleGrly.a fragrant
violation Of the rights Of all neutral
messengers on board. Il is violation
which makes il incumbent on the gov
ernmcuts Of the various persons on
board 10 take appropriate action 20 Sc
cure redress and 20 prevent the recur-
renee Of similar violations Of neutrality.
Gwen If all lives had been saved, !
do no. in that case see where IN
tcrnatioual law and right have been
served. The Lusitania was put INTO
Jeopardy by the presence or this SUB
marine. This was unlawful Jeopardy
The very putting into jeopardy OF the
lives of ncutrals on board ~ most
high handed interference with their
rights as citizens Of neutral countries
at makes no difference whether the
sinking occurred within the so-called
war zone or In any other part of the
HIGH seas Tre fact remains that the
country whose instrument Of naval
warfare attacked q ship on board o.
which were neutral passengers should
be asked for immediate redress and as
sur0ncc that there will be no recur-
renee Of similar violations
The following statement was made by
Oswald Garrison Willard, publisher OF
The New York Evening POST last
Il most omphatically do not believe
any nation is justified IN ATTACKING
fhip carrying passengers OF neutral
countries and sinking that ship without
prryious warning and without providing
facilities for permitting lht passenger
10 leave i'm safety. Such action seems
70 mo clearly contrary 20 the laws OF
wa and one not 20 be justified on any
ground. least Of all because a warning
Was given in advance that the shiT
might find itself IN danger. 4 appears
from the news az this late hour that
/, was an incredibly dastardly anC
brutal act, contrary 20 every dictate oil
humanity.
"Not a Glorious Feat
"If Il had appeared that the Lusi
tania was struck only after the ere"
and passenger had had full and ample
time and opportunity 20 make then
escape from the ships in small boat.
under safe conditions near land n.
criticism could attach 90 the German
action, and the sinking Of the Lusi
tania would go down 20 history as one
OF the most daring and successful
dramatic exploits in the annals Of nava
warfare. Instead Of this, however, il
appears, according 20 the latest dis
matches. that the sinking OF the Lusi