The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-07-29

the existing aaos4 119 nlQ
formulated. and it Is ready n naks
every reasonable allowance for these
novel and unexpected aspects Of war
at sea; it cannot consent to abate an
essential or fundamental right of its
people because of a mere alteration of
circumstance. The rights of neutrals
in time Of war are based upon prin-
ciple, not upon expediency, and prin-
ciples are immutable. It is the duty
and obligation of belligerents who find
war necessary to adapt the circum-
stances to them.
Law of Warfare Practicable.
The events Of the last two months
have clearly indicated that it is pos
sible and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have charac-
terized tho activities Of the imperial
German navy within the so-called war
zone in substantial accord with the ac
cepted practices of regulated warfare
The whole world has looked with in
terest and increasing satisfaction at
the demonstration of that possibility
by the German naval commanders.
It is manifestly possible, therefore, to
lift the whole practice of submarine
attack above the criticism which it
aroused So as to remove the chief
causes of offense. In view of the ad-
mission of the illega1ity made by the
imperial government when it pleaded
the right of retaliation in defense Of
its acts, and in view Of the manifest
possibility of conforming to establish
ed rules Of naval warfare, the gov
ernment of the United States cannot
believe the imperial government will
longer refrain from disavowing the
wanton act of it's naval commander in
sinking the Lusitania or from offering
reparation of the American lives lost,
SO far as reparation can be made for
the needless destruction Of human life
by an illegal act. 6
i cannot Accept suggestion.
The government of the United
States, while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made
cannot accept the suggestion of the
imperial German government that Ger
vessels be designated and agreed upor
which shall be free on seas now lille
other vessels to illegal attack ant
would be a curtailment therefore o,
the abandonment of the principles fo1
which this government contend ant
which in times of calmer eounsel'
every nation would concede as mat
ter Of course. The government Of tn
United States and the imperial Ger
man government, contending for tn
same great object, have long stood to
gether in urging the very principles
upon which the government of tn
United States now son solemnly in
sists. They are both contending 70,
the freedom Of the seas.
The government of the Unite,
States will continue to contend TO-
that freedom from whatever quarte
violated without compromise and a
any cost. It invites the practical co
operation of the imperial Germa,
government at this time, when co
: operation may accomplish the mos
and this great common object be mos
strikingly and effectively achieved
The imperial German government ex
presses the hope that this object ma,
in some measure be accomplishe,
, even before the present war ends.
can be. The government of the Unite,
} States not only feels obliged to insis
J upon it, by whomsoever violated o
ignored, in protection Of it's own citi
zens, but just as deeply interested il
J seeing it made practicable between
the belligerents themselves, and hald
itself ready at any time to act as
common friend who may be privilege,
to suggest a way.