The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1915-06-12
Cerman-Americans Will
Stand by U. S. in Case
of War With Germany

Bismarck, N. D., June 12.-The
North Dakota division OF the German-
American alliance, in a state conven-
tion here last night, adopted resolu-
ton which called attention TO the War
In Europe and denied the ruHors mat
fhe German A fnericans would not ne
foyal to the land OF their adoption IN
case OF war.
Whereas. aspersions have been cast
bvs some on the attitude of the Ger
man American citizens OF the United
states. for their stand with the Ia
therland In its struggles for existence
against England and her allies. critics
using the argument as an excuse TO
spread false statements that the Ger
man Americans of this country are
not. and would not be loyal to this,
their adopted country, in case OF q
great crisis growing out of the war
in Europe and involving the United
States;
we. the members of the German
American Alliance of North Dakota
in convention assembled, take this OPP
portunity OF asserting and making
public the fact that while we nat
urally sympathize with the land OF
our nativity in the present European
conflict, we feel nevertheless, the
history of the German Americans IN
the United States in, the past snoulo
be ample assurance that in case OF
such an unfortunate crisis the Ger
man American citizens would oe
found standing shoulder to shoulder
with all other citizens, and doing as
valiant service for our country and
the Stars and Stripes as they nave
done In the past. Yet, we feel that
as American citizens we should De
permitted to discuss, approve or dis
approve of the attitude Of our ma
tional administration in either It's
domestic or foreign policies, or its at
titude toward Germany and her en-
emies without being classed as "hy-
phenates" and enemies OF our coun-
try. r
SOLVED, that it is the sense or TINS
convention that we sincerely regret
the loss of lives of non -combatants
of all nations through the etfective
use of the submarine warfare Dy
Germany. Yet, we feel and believe
that all of these calamities might
have been averted had a firmer stand
been taken by the United states
against Englands Order in Council
declaring against international law,
Justice and precedent the right to stop
neutral merchant vessels on the high
sea carrying food and other nom
contrabands of war to Germany ana
It's allies, and to confiscate same In
order to starve the civilian popula-
ton of these nations, hoping by this
means to force them into submis-
sion That we approve the attitude Of
the United States in dealing with
England's Order in Council of 1888,
when that nation was at war with
France, now one of her allies. where
in that great American patriot, Tho
mas Jefferson, secretary OF state, ex-
A. nP
in no uncertain language, and as
follows: I'm the. case where the de-
priying an enemy of these supplies
(foodstuffs and non -contrabrand OF
war) Is one of the means intended to
be employed for reducing him to reas-
enable terms of peace. or In any case
but that OF a place actually blockad
ed. was entirely new. That when two
nations 60 to war those who choose
to live in peace retain their natural
right to pursue their agriculture.
manufacture and other vocations; to
carry the produce OF their industry
for exchange to all nations, belligerent
or neutral; to go and come freely
without injury or molestation. To
these mutual rights nations had al
lowed one exception--that of furnish
ing implements of war to the belli-
gerents, or anything whatever to q
blockaded place. Corn, flour or meal
were not of the class Of contrabrand
and consequently remained articles OF
free commerce. The state of war be-
tween Great Britain and France fur
nished neither belligerents with the
right to interrupt the agriculture Of
the United States. or the peaceable
exchange of it's products with all ma
tions. If the United States permitted
corn to be sent to Great Britain and
her friends, and refused 1t to France
such an act Of partiaiity might lead
To war with the latter power. IL they
withheld supplies OF provisions from
France they should likewise be bound
to withhold them from her enemies.