The weekly soliphone., 1915-06-11

accept. NO treaty was actually en-
tered into with Germany, but l
cannot see that should stand
in the way when both nations in
dorsed the principle. l do not know
whether Germany would accept the
offer, but our country should, in
my judgment, make the offer.
"Such an offer, if accepted, would
at once relieve the tension and
silence all the jingoes who are de-
manding war. Germany has al
ways been a friendly nation and a
great many of our people are of
German ancestry. Why should we
not deal with Germany according
to this plan, to which the nation
has pledged it's support?
DUTY OF ALL CITIZENS.
y '.The second point of difference
is as to the course which should
be pursued in regard to Americans
traveling on belligerent ships or
with cargoes of ammunition.
"Why should an American citi-
zen be permitted to involve his
country in war by travelling upon
a belligerent ship when he knows
that the ship will pass through the
danger zone? The question is not
whether an American citizen has
a right under international law to
travel on a belligerent ship; the
question is whether he ought not,
out of consideration for his coun-
try if not for his own safety, avoid
danger when avoidance is possible.
''It is very one-sided citizenship
that compels a government to go
to war over citizens rights and
yet relieve the citizen of all obli-
cations to consider his nations
welfare. 1 do not know just how
far the president can legally go in
actually preventing Americans
from travelling ON belligerent ships,
but l believe the government should
go as far as it can, and that in
case of doubt it should give the
benefit of the doubt to the govern
ment.
But even if the government
could not legally prevent citizens
from travelling on belligerent ships,
nd in Ind dUTD1 aT,f
should, earnestly advise American
citizens not to risk themselves or
the peace of their country, and I
have no doubt that these warnings
would be needed.
CITES ACTION IN MEXICO.
President Taft advised Ameri-
cans to leave Mexico when insur-
rection broke out there, and Pres
ident Wilson has repeated the ad-
vice. This advice, in my judg-
ment, was eminently wise, and I
think the same course should be
followed in regard to warning Am
ericans to keep off vessels subject
to attack.
II think, too, that American pas
senger ships should be prohibited
from carrying ammunition. The
lives Of passengers ought not to
be endangered by cargoes of am
munitiOn, whether that danger
comes from possible explosions
within or from possible attacks
from without. Passengers and am
munition should not travel togeth-
err The attempt to prevent Am
erican citizens from incurring these
risks is entirely consistent with the
effort which our government is
making to prevent attacks from
submarines.
''The use of one remedy does not
exclude the use of the other. The
most familiar illustration is to be
found in the action taken by mu
nicipal authorities during a riot.
1t is the duty of the mayor to
suppress the mob and to prevent
violence, but he does not hesitate
to warn citizens to keep off the
streets during the riots. He does
not question their right to use the
streets, but for their own protec-
ton and in the interest of order he
warns them not to incur the risks
involved lin going upon the streets
when men are shooting at each
other.
'The president does not feel JUS
titled in taking the action above
stated. That is, he does not feel
ustified-first, in suggesting the
submission of the controversy to
investigation, or, second, in warn
ing the people not to incur the ex-
ira hazards in travelling on bellig-
erent ships or in ships carrying
ammunition.