Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-12

suggestion Of international investiSa-
ton would be a sign OF weakness
and everything Is weakness that does
not contain hint OF war. The lingo
sees In the rainbow OF promise only one
color. red.
DUTY TO HELP PRESIDENT
SECURE: PEACE: NOW
Second. Knowing that the President
desires peace. II is your duty TO help
him secure 1t. and how? BY cxerting
your influence to convince the German
government OF this fact. and to per
suade that government to take no steps
that would lead lin the direction of war.
My fear has been that the German kov-
eminent might, despairing of a friend
~ settlement. break OF diplomatic re-
lations, and thus create condition
out OF which war might come without
the intention Of either country. I do
not ask you to minimize the earnest
ness OF the Presidents STATEMENT
that would he unfair. both to him and
to Germany. The sinking Of the Lust
tania cannot he defended upon the facts
as We understand them. The killing
OF innocent women and children\can
not be justified. whether the killing is
by drowning or starving: no nation can
successfully plead the inhumanity Of
her enemies as an excuse for in
humanity on her own part. While 1t
is true that cruelty Is apt to beget
cruelty. it cannot he said that like
cures like. Even in war we are not
absolved from the obligation to remedy
evils by the influence Of good ex
ample. Let your light so shine is
a precept that knows no times nor
| seasons. as il knows neither latitude
nor longitude
MUST TREAT WITH EACH
NATION SEPARATELY
the negotiations which are going on
between the United States and Germany
with those between the United States
and Great Britain. The cases are diff
ferent. but even IL they were the same.
1T would be necessary to treat with each
nation separately. My personal pref
erence has been to repeat our insist
ence that the allies shall not inter-
fere with our commerce with neutral
countries, but the difference on this
point was matter of Judgment and
not matter of principle. In the nste
to Great Britain. dated March 30, this
government said:
LIN view of these assurances form
ally given to this government, II is
confidently expected that the extern
sire powers conferred by the order in
council on the executive officers OF the
crown will lie restricted by orders Is
sued by the government directing the
exercise of their discretionary powers
in such a manner as to modify in prac
teal application those provisions OF
the order in council which, il strictly
enforced. would violate neutral rights
and interrupt legitimate trade. Rely
ing on the faithful performance of
nj MT q
Majesty's government, the United States
takes it for granted that the approach
Of American merchantmen to neutral
ports situated upon the long line of
coast affected by the order in council
will not be interfered with when II is
known that they do not carry goods
which are contraband of war. or goods
destined to or proceeding from ports
within the belligerent territory at
fected.'
There is no doubt that our govern
ment will insist upon this position:
that is an important thing. The exact
date Of the note is not material. My
reason for desiring to have the matter
presented TO Great Britain at once was
not that Germany had any right TO ask
il, but because ! was anxious to make
IT easy as possible for Germany to
accept the demands orthe United States
and cease employing submarines against
any German Americans should doubt
the Presidents intentions in this mat :
ter. am sure that every one will,
on reflection, recognize that our duty
to prevent loss OF life is more urgent
than our duty TO prevent interference
pensated for with money. but no set
Element that the United States and
Germany may reach can call back to
life those who went down with the
Lusitania-and war would be the most
expensive OF all settlements. because
II would enormously add to the number
OF the dead.
HOPES GERMANY WILL
ACQUlESCE IN DEMANDS
Fourth. l hope that Germany will
acquiesce in the demands that have
been made, and l hope that she will
acquicsce in them without conditions.
She can trust the United states to deal
justly with her in the consideration of
any change she may propose in the in
ternational rules that govern the taking
of prizes. The more generously she
acts in this matter the greater will be
the glory which she will derive from
il. She has raised a question Which is
now receiving serious considera ton,
namely, whether the introduction of the
submarine necessitates any change in
rules governing the capture OF prizes.
The position seemingly taken by Ger
many, namely. that she is entitled to
drown noncombatants because they
ride with contraba is an untenable
position; the most that she could insist
upon is that, in view of the introduction
OF this new weapon OF warfare. new
rules should be adopted = separating
passengers from Objectionable cargo.
If the use of the submarine justifies
such n change in the law of blockade
as will permit the Gordon to be with
drawn far enough from the shore to
avoid the danger of submarine attack,
may IL not be found possible TO secure
an international agreement by which
passengers will be excluded from ships
carrying contraband. or. at least. from
those carving ammunition? II would