New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-26
Our Stand for Neutral Rights,

The United States is fully justified IN
irving 10 bring about an understand
ing between Great Britain and Germany
which may help TO mitigate the harsh
conditions under which American com
meree with Northern Europe Is now
conducted. Our government would nave
been lacking in diligence If 1t had not
acted upon the suggestion contained IN
the last paragraph Of the German
note Of February Is. That note
strongly limited at the possibility of a
restoration Of the status existing before
the German Admiralty's "war zone
proclamation went into effect.
According TO the German view the
war zone" order was reprisal pro-
voked by Great Britain's efforts to shut
of trade in food supplies between Ger
many and neutral nations. The infer
ence was unmistakable (although no
direct promise was made) that If Great
Britain would allow the importation
into Germany Of foodstuffs intended for
the use of the civilian population Ger
many would recall the war zone proc
lamation. with its unpleasant threats
against neutrals trading with Great
Britain.
The British government must decide
for itself how far it is practicable TO
respond TO the German offer to restore
the status quo ante. But it is our duty
10 make every reasonable effort to pro
mote a compromise by which the rights
Of neutrals on the high seas may be
guaranteed for the rest Of the war. The
United States is vitality interested IN
keeping unimpai.ed the maritime priv
leges which neutral nations have slowly
and painfully won. There will be other
great wars. and whether we avoid par
ticipation in them or not, It will be
greatly to our advantage to MAINTAIN
in the largest possible measure our
opportunity of access in war time to
foreign markets. II would be setting a
precedent highly injurious TO us II
Great Britain should declare and enforce
against Germany the doctrine of abso-
lutte contraband in foodstuffs mo actual
blockade exiSting) or If Germany should
succeed in maintaining against Great
Britain the fiction Of war zone made
such solely through the terrorizing
operations of submarines.
The United States must think of the
future as well as the present and dc
everything possible to safeguard the
position Of neutrals against the exces
sive demands Of belligerents. Nations
at war are carried far by popular pas
sion and the plea Of military necessity
and it is natural for them to think o
\ themselves first and Of the interest
" of non-combatants afterward. Yet tn
existence Of the tendency TO brush neu
trial interests aside does not relieve neu
trails Of the obligation to hold fast L
the rights embodied in the existing cod
Of international law-rights which al
nations have acquired because they worl
for the benefit of the community o
nations.
Admitting the difficulties in the wa,
of a compromise favorable to neutral
we must still work hopefully to that end
One failure need not discourage u
Neutral influence will become more pc
tent the longer the war lasts. Least o
all should we think Of meeting a frs
rebuff with retaliatory measure lik
an embargo against all the belligerents
jefferson tried that futile remedy in tn
Nspoleonic wars and succeeded only j
impoverishing the country. The Unite
States needs just now all the foreig
trade it can get. The embargo is
weapon which discharges at the breec
instead Of the muzzle. It's use woul
be costly 70 us in dollars and cents, sti
more so in SCATTERING that moral infu
ence which the United States can reason
ably expect to exert in terminating tn
great war and getting the world bacI
20 the tasks of civilization.