Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-20

this connection recall the attention OF
the United states to tho considerations
put forward In Sir Edward Grey'B note
to Mr. Page of the 10th instant rs to
the propricty OF awaiting the result
/ OF tho prizc court proceedings before
diplomatic action Is initiated. 1t will
be remembered that they have from tho
outset given definite assurances that
the owners Of the Wilholmina as well
rs the owners OF hor cargo, II found
tn he contraband. would be cuultably
Unidentified.
There Is one further observation to
which His Majesty's government think
II right and appropriate IN the pres
cnt connection to give expression.
They have not so far declared food
stuns TO be absolute contraband; they
have not interfered with any neutral
vessels on account OF their carrying
io"dStuHS, except on basis OF such
| fo"dstuTs being liable to capture II
destined for enemy forces or govern
mcnts. In 30 acting they have been
guided by the general principle, Of late
universally upheld by civilized nations
and observed I'm practice, that the
! civil populations OF countries at war
; are not TO be- exposed to treatment
rightly reserved for combatuuts. This
distinction has to all intents and pur-
poses been swept away by the novel
doctrines proclaimed and acted upon
by tho German government.
UNNECESSARY 10 DWELL.
ON GERMAN ACTIONS
1T Is unnecessary here to dwell on
the treatment that has been mcted out
to the civil population OF Belgium and
TO those parts Of France which arc
In German occupation. When Germany
long before any mines had been laid
by the British authorities, proceeded
TO SOW mines upon the high seas, and
oS th!s means sunk considerable
number. not only of British. but also
neutral merchantmen, with their un-
OFFENDING crews, II was, so His
Majcsty's government held open to
them to take .retaliatory measures
even II such measures were or Il kind
To involve pressure on the civil popu-
lation. not, indeed. Of neutral states
but OF their enemies. They refrained
from doing SO, When subsequently,
English towns and defenseless British
subjects. including women and children
were deliberately and systematically
fired upon and killed by ships flying
the flag of the imperial German navy;
when quiet country towns and viii
lagos, void OF defenscs and possessing
no military or naval Importance. were
bombarded by German airships His
Matesty's government stu abstained
from drawing the logical consequences
from this form OF attack on defense
less citizens.
Further steps In the same direction
are now announced and, In fact, already
nave been taken by Germany. British
merchant vessels have been torpcducd
at sight. without any attempt being
made 10 give warming TO the crew or
any opportunity being given To save
their lives. = torpedo has been fired
against n British hospital ship In day
light, and similar treatment is threat
ened to all British merchant vessels in
lie fiIt
ships that may happen to be- found in
the neighborhood of the British Isles.
CANNOT HE BOUND DY LAWS
SET AT DEFIANCE ni ENEMY
Faced with this situation. His
Majcsty's government consider ii wou,i
bc altogether unreasonable that Great
Britain and her allies should be OK
pected to remain indefinitely bound. Ia
their grave detrlment, by rules and
principles OF which they recognize tho
Justice If impartially observed as be-
tween bclliGercnts, but which are at
the present moment openly set at def
ancc by their cnomy.
IF, therefore, His Majcsty's govern
mcnt should hereafter feel constrained
to declare foodstuffs absolute contra
band. or take other measures for in
tcrfering with German trade by way OF
rcprisals they confidently expect that
such action will not he challenged on
the part OF neutral states by appeals
to laws and usagcs of war whose va
lidity rests on their forming an in
teSral part of that system Of Inter
| national doctrine, which as a whole
their enemy frankly boasts the liberty
and intention to disregard. so long as
such neutral states cannot compel
the German government to abandon
| methods of warfare which have not
In recent history been regarded as hav-
ing the sanction OF either law or hu-
manIty."