The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-07-27
Thoughts Herself Knowing Thoughts Ough
THE LusiTANlA CASE
J. c. Colgate Says Main Issue Must
Come First


Editor of The Banner: In the edit
| oiial columns of Saturdays issue you
seem to imply that the sale OF am.
| munition to the allies by manufacture
| ers in this country furnishes justifica.
ton for the sinking OF the Lusitania.
1t is of the utmost importance for
this country at the present time that
people should think calmly and at
the same time clearly. In view of the
necessity for clear thinking 1t seems
"a mistake to confuse the question in
volyed in the sinking of the Lusitania
with that involved in the manufacture
and sale of ammunition. These
questions involve different principles
of law and should be discussed sep
arately. So, too, the questions of
international law at issuse between
this country and Great Britain should
not be confused with those between
this country and Germany.
The question of the greatest import
ance at the moment and the one first
in order is that growing out OF the
death of American citizens upon the
Lusitania. When this has been set
tied, the one next in order can be TAX
Ell up 10 consider together questions
involving different principles invites
confusion of thought resulting in hesi-
tation and uncertainty OF action.
The very simplicity OF the princi-
pies involved in the case OF the Lusi-
tania has led to confusion II the
minds of some.
Up to the outbreak of the present
war it was a universally accepted
rule of international law that bcllig-
erent had no right to sink a merchant
vessel whether carrying contraband
or not without giving due warning.
and without giving her crew and
passengers, il any, reasonable time to
escape. Death occurring from viola
tion OF this rule was murder.
The present war brought into use a
new weapon. the submarine. While
possible for "a submarine To give the
required notice it is not convenient.
Commanders of German submarines,
presumably acting under the orders
of their government. bave for this
reason ignored the rule and torpedoed
merchant aships without notice and
without affording opportunity for
the escape OF the crew and passeng-
ers.
So long as American property and
lives were not involved the United
States government remained silent
upon this violation of the estab-
lished law of3H nations-whether
this silence was justified or not,
is open to question. When how
ever, in the case of the Lusitania, fail
ure to give. notice brought about the
death of american citizens it has ber
come necessary to decide whether a
a nation las the right for conyen-
ience. H9cbssity or any other cause.
TO change without our consent, the
rules ofnternational law which affect
our citizens-whether to put it in an
other way, in a game with several
players. one player may change the
rules TO suit his own hand.
This is the Lusitania question and
it should not be confused with the
sales of ammunition, the neutrality
OF Belgium or anything else.
Unless we grant this right of Ger
many to change the established rules
of international law to suit her own
convenience, the Americans drowned
i'll the sinking of the Lusltania were
murdered This issue should be fair
ly met by our people unconfused and
unclouded by any other.
1t is not clear thinking to persuade
ourselves that no vital issue is involy-
cd in order that we may avoid the
danger and discomfort incident to
maintaining such principles. What
ever we may do or refrain from doing
let us do it with our eyes open and
avoid deceiving ourselves with fallac-
ious reasoning.
Yours very truly,
Jas. c. Colgate.
Ben Venue, Bennington, VT, July 26,
1915.