The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-07-30


justice and due regard for the dignity
of neutral powers, should dictate that
the practice be discontinued. II per-
sisted in. in such circumstances they
constitute an objectionable offense
against the sovereignty Of the neutral
nations affected While the govern
ment of the United States is not I'M
mindful of the extraordinary cond1-
lions created by this war, or of the
radical alterations of circumstances
in the method of attack produced by
the instrumentalities Of naval war
fare. which the nations of the world
cannot have had in view when the
existing international rules were for
| mulated, and it. is ready to make ey-
| cry reasonable allowance for these
novel and unexpected aspects of war
| at sea, it cannot consent to abate any
essential or fundamentl right of it's
| people because of a mere alteration
| of circumstances. The rights of neu-
| trails in time of war are based on
| principle not upon expediency, and
| principles are immutable. 1t is the
duty and obligation of belligerents
who find war necessary to adapt the
new circumstances to them.
Can Desist Easily
Events of the past two months have
clearly innicated that it is possible
and practicable to conduct such sub
marine operations as have character
lied the. activities of the imperial
German navy within the so-called
war zone In substantial accord with
the accepted practices of regulated
warfare The whole world looks
with interest and increasing satisfac-
faction at the demonstration of that
possibility by the German naval COM
manders. 1t is manifestly possible,
therefore, to lift the whole practice Of
submarine attack above the criticism
which it aroused so as to remove the
chief cause of offense. In view of the
admission of the illegality made by
the imperial government when it
pleaded the right of retaliation in de-
Tense of it's acts and in view of the
manifest possibility of conforming to
established rules of naval warfare,
the government of the United States
cannot believe the imperial German
government will longer refrain from
disavowing the wanton act of its ma
val commander in sinking the Lusi-
tania or from offering PREPARATION of
the American lives lost, so far as rep
aration can be made for the needless
destruction of human life by an lille
gal act.
Cannot Agree
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
certain vessels be designated and
agreed upon which shall be free on
seas now Illegally prescribed.
That very agreement would, by i'm
plication, subject other vessels to IL
legal attack and would be a curtaiI-
ment therefore of the abandonment of
the principles for which this govern
ment contends and which in time of
ealmer counsels every nation would
concede as a matter of course.
Both After Same End
The government of the United
States and the imperial German gov
contending for the same
great object, have long stood together
in urging the very principles upon
which the government Of the United
States now so solemnly insists. They
ire both contending for the freedom
IL LIE seas. Inc Ol the
United States will continue to con-p
end for that freedom from whatever
quarter violated without compromise
md at any cost. 1t invites the prac-
ical cooperation of the imperial Ger
nan government at this time. when
may accomplish the most
nd this great dommon object be most
trikingly and effectively achieved
The imperial German government
Expresses the hope that this object
nay be in some measure accomplished
ven before the present war ends. It
an be. The government OF the United
tatss not only feels obliged to insist
pom it, by whomsoever violated. in
of its own citizens, but is
lso deeply interested in seeing it
lade practicable between the bellig-
ents themselves, and holds itself
sady at any time to act as a common
-iend who may be privileged to sug-
est a way.
Would Be UnfriendIy Act.
In the meantime the very value
hich this government sets upon the
ing and unbroken friendship between
lie people and the government Of
lie United States and the people and
of the German nation i'm
els it to impress very solemnly upon
e imperial German government the
scessity for the scrupulous observ-
ice of neutral rights in this critical
after. That friendship itself
'cmpts it to say to the imperial Ger
an government that a repetition by
of German naval vessels
the acts in contravention of these
ghts must be regarded by the gov
nment of the United States when
ey affect American citizens, as de.
,erately unfriendly.
(Signed) LANSING.