The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-07-24

of the nftteth anniversary OF the
grand review at the close OF
the war. -
belligerent act of retaliation is, per Sc,
IN act beyond the law, and the defense
If an act as retaliatory is an admis.
sion that it is illegal.
THE government of the United
States is, however, keenly disappoint-
I'd to find that the imperial German
government regards itself as in large
iegree exempt from the obligation to
observe these principles even where
leutral vessels are concerned by what
t believes the policy and practice of
he government of Great Britain to be
n the present war with regard to
Neutral commerce. The imperial Ger
man government will readily under
stand that the government of the
United States can not discuss the
policy of the government of Great
Britain with regard to neutral trade
except with that government itself,
md that it must regard the conduct
of other belligerent governments as
irrelevant to any discussion with the
imperial German government of what
this government regards as grave and
unjustifiable violations of the rights
Of American citizens by German naval
commanders.
"lllegal and inhuman acts, however
justifiablc they may be thought to be,
against an enemy who is believed tol
have acted in contravention of law
and humanity, are manifestly inde-
iensible when they deprive neutrals of
their acknowledged rights particularly
when they violate the right to life
itself. If a belligerent can not retail
ate against an enemy without injur-
ing the lives of neutrals as well as
their property, humanity as well as
justice and due regard for the dig
nifty of neutral powers should dictate
that the practice be discontinued. III
persisted in, it would in such circum-
stances constitute an unpardonable of
tense against the sovereignty of the
neutral nation affected.
"The government of the United
States is not unmindful OF the ex-
traordinary conditions created by this
war or of the radical alterations of
circumstances and method of attack
produced by the use of Instrumental
ties of naval warfare, which the ma
tions of the world can not have had In
view when the existing rules of in
ternational law were formulated, and
1t is ready to make every reasonable
allowance for these novel and unex-
pected aspects of war at sea; but II
can not consent to abate any essen
tial or fundamental right of its peo-
pie because of mere alteration of cir
cumstances The rights of neutrals
in time of war are based upon prin-
ciple, not upon expediency and the
principles are immutable. 1t is the
duty and obligation of belligerents to
find a way to adapt the new circum-
stances to them.
Possible to Stay Within Law.
"The events Of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it is pos
sible and practicable to conduct such
operations as have char
acterized the activity of the imperial
German navy within the so-called war
zone in substantial accord with the
accepted practice of regulated war
fare The whole world has looked
with interest and increasing satisfac-
ton at the demonstration of that pos
sibility by German naval commanders.
It is manifestly possible, therefore, to
lift the whole practice of submarine
attack above the criticism which it
has aroused and remove the chief
cause of offense.
"In view of the admission of lille
gality made by the imperial govern
nent when it pleaded the right OF re-
aiiation in defense of its acts, and in
Tiew of the manifest possibility of
to the established rules OF
.ayal warfare, the government Of the
,nired States can not believe that the
imperial government viii longer re
raia from disavowing the wanton act
1 is. naval commander in sinking the
.usitania or from offering reparation
f the American lives lost so far as
eparation can be made for a needless
estruction of human life by an illegal
ct c
"The government of the Unitedj