The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-07-29

val WhrIaEe Wnlcn Lne nations OF the
world can not have had in view when
the existing rules of international law
were formulated, and II is ready to
make every reasonable allowance for
these novel and unexpected aspects
of war at sea, but It can not consent
to abate any essential or fundamental
right of its people because Of mere
alienation of circumstance. The
rights OF neutrals in time of war are
based upon principle, not upon expe-
diency, and the principles are immu-
table. 1t is the duty and obligation OF
belligerents TO find way to adapt the
new circumstances TO them.
The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it is pos.
sible and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have char.
acterized the activity Of the Imperial
German navy within the so-called
war zone in substantial accord with
the accepted practices Of regulated
warfare. The whole world has looked
with interest and increasing satisfac.
tion at the demonstration of that pos.
sibility by German naval command.
ers. 1t is manifestly possible, there.
fore, to lift the whole practice of SUBJ
marine attack above the criticism
which it has aroused and remove the
chief causes of offense.
In view Of the admission OF illegal
ity made by the Imperial Government
when it pleaded the right of retalia.
tion in defense of its acts, and in
view of the manifest possibility of
conforming to the established rules
of naval warfare, the Government of
the United States can not believe that
the Imperial Government will longer
refrain from disavowing the wanton
act of it's naval commander in sinking
the Lusitania, or from offering repar.
alton for the American lives lost. so
far as reparation can be made for a
needless destruction of human life
by an illegal act.
The Government of the United
States, while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made,
can not accept the suggestion of the
Imperial German Government that
certain Tessels be designated and
agreed upon which shall be free on
the seas now illegally prescribed.
The very agreement would, by impli-
cation, subject other vessels to illegal
attack, and would be a curtailment
and therefore an abandonment of the
principles for which this government
contends, and which in times of calm.
er counsels every nation comedies as
of course.
The Government of the United
States and the Imperial German Gov
eminent are contending for the same
great object, having long been to.
gether in urging the very principles
upon which the Government of the
United States now so solemnly in.
sists. They are both contending for
the freedom of the seas. The Govern.
ment of the United States will con.
tinue to contend for that freedom,
from whatever quarter violated, with.
out compromise and at any cost. II
invites the practical cooperation OF
the Imperial German Government at
this time, when cooperation may ac.
complish most and this great common
object be most strikingly and effect
lively achieved.
The Imperial German Government
expresses the hope that this object
may be in some measure accomplish
ed even before the present war ends
1t can be. The Government of the
United States not only feels itself
Obliged to insist upon it, by whose
ever violated or ignored, in the pro
lection of its own citizens, but is also
deeply interested in seeing it made
practicable between the belligerents
themselves, and holds itself ready at
any time to act as the common friend
who may be privileged to suggest a
way.
In the meantime the very value
which this Government sets upon the
long and unbroken friendship be-
tween the people and Government of
the United States and the people and
Government of the German nation in.
pels it to press very solemnly upon
the Imperial German Government the
necessity for scrupulous observ-
ance of neutral rights in this critical
matter. Friendship itself prompts it
to say to the Imperial Government
that repetition by the commanders of
German naval vessels of acts in con-
traVention of those rights must be
regarded by the Government of the
United States, when they affect
American citizens, as deliberately un.
friendly. LANSING.