New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-03
Revindicating international Law


Belligerent governments ere usuaiiy
too absorbed In making war TO look De-
yond war. In their treatment OF neutrsis
thsv are disposed to set up their necessi-
t,ss az the measure Of their international
obligations. They want to suspend me
operation Of those principles and rules OF
international law which interfere with the
successful execution Of military pro-
grammes.
Vet international law remains, and the
warning powers will be glad enough to
claim It's protection again when they get
hack to q peace basis. Those OF their
statesman who are not altogether carried
away by the doctrine that q struggle Tor
existence between two groups Of nations
can absolve both those groups from On OBJ
s.rvance Of their prior obligations to nsu-
t,sI. still realize the need Of holding fast
70 the conceptions and teachings OF inc
law Of nations, even though In the heat
Of combat injury TO the enemy, accom-
nushed by abridging neutral rights, may
be upheld as a pardonable concession 70
military necessity.
This realization, doing credit to their
Iarreness and clearness OF vision, crops
out In the speeches made In the British
House Of Lords on Wednesday by LORD
Lansdowne and Viscount Bryce. Botn
frankly admitted that Great Britain would
have to consider an adjustment with neu-
trail nations which contend that their
rights have been unlawfully abridged by
british prize courts and through the ad-
n,;nistration Of the British Orders IN
Council. The United States has announced
that Il cannot consider as final adJudica-
tions the decisions Of British prize courts,
onnlvinp DEGREES which have no basis IN
international law. We insist on the right
70 ask for settlement Of these cases by
Diplomatic means. Lord Lansdowne rec
ognizes the propriety Of that attitude when
he says:.T go further and say that IN all
such cases where there has been failure
10 obtain a satisfactory solution through
the law courts and where diplomacy has
been unable to arrive at an adjustment, it
4, right and reasonable that the principle
Of arbitration should be contemplated"
We have an arbitration treaty with
Great Britain, and are perfectly willing
20 settle differences over the enforcement
Of the Orders in Council in a way which
Will give US legal redress and at the same
time permit international law to be vim
dicated.
Viscount Bryce was even more emphatic
In expressing the hope that international
Law will be restored In ell It's integrity.
"a great deal Of the fabric Of interna-
tional law has been shattered" he said.
"The great task Of the future will be to
rebuild that shattered fabric. 1t would
be most unfortunate II this country were
to 20 beyond what has been considered
to be settled international law and make
her own will and her own necessities The
Judges Of her actions"
This is the view Of statesman who car
acknowledge the claims Of the future a.
we'll as the claims Of the present Inter
national law as it stood when the wal
broke out Is one Of the worlds great IN
beritances. IL is an essential part o.
civilization. No nation can benefit per
msnently by breaking It down. All vii
be losers II its benefcent safeguards ar
sacrificed TO military exigencies OF thi
war or any other war.
To the United States, as the most pow
erful Of the neutrals, has fallen the tasi
Of standing out against violations OF neu
tral rights. II is an honorable mission
which should be persevered In 70 the end
There can be no doubt that the "shat
tered fabric" Of international law will b
rebuilt. To Judge from the remarks OF
Lord Lansdowne and Viscount Bryce, ever
the belligerent nations Will eventually
thank Us for having held fast-in form
ut least-for a strict observance Of bel
ngerent obligations 70 neutrsls. If the en-.
lghtened opinion which these two states
men represent prevails, Great Britain's
influence will eventually be thrown In
favor Of rehabilitation Of the principles
Of international law, against which British
war policy 10 now arbitrarily offending.