Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-27
BRYCE DECLARES
NEUTRALITY JUST
FACT BOTH SIDES COMPLAIN
HELD PROOF OF AMERICAN
IMPARTiALITY.

/ London. Feb. 27.-Viscount James
Bryce. in an article on The Position
of the United States in the War" to be
published in the Daily Chronicle to-
day, saws it is "a complete error to as
sumo that those who bear German
name or own TO German blood belong
20 the pro-German party.
"The children of Europeans who are
born in America" Viscount Bryce con-
tinues, grow up normal American
citizens for all practical purposes.
Their loyalty is to the Stars and
Stripes and their feeling for the land
of their parents is mparatively weak.
What is called the German vote is
in some few cities q force to be reck-
oned with But when those who lead
try to use it as a means for applying
political pressure in such cases as this
the native Americans resent such an
attempt for with them il is fUnda-
mental principle that citizens must
have no loyalty save TO the United
States. and the great bull, of even
hypheuated COMMUNICATIONS would
refuse TO respond"
As TO the neutrality of the American
government Mr. Bryce adds, both
SIDES have blamed IT, and the govern
ment points 10 this as the best proof
of its impartiality. One party. he
says. moved by the tragic fate of Bel
sium. censured the government for
having failed TO protest against the
violation of Belgian territory and the
fragrant breaches OF the rules Of war
fare prescribed by The Hague conven-
ton.
But" says Viscount Bryce. 1t is
right that neither side of the case
should be put to the United States,
the greatest Of the neutral powers.
The administration might conceive
that many questions viii arise during
the war in which the rights of all the
neutrals viii be involved. and it might
think that the authority with which
the United States can speak would be
weakened if at the outset its gov
eminent takes up position adverse
to one or the other party to the strug-
gle. However high the motive it,
impartiality would thereafter be ques-
toned"
Arguing that the attack on Belgium
was clear breach not only On the con +
vention OF 1907 but of the fundamental !
OF international law. Wis I
count Bryce says that the breaches +
which followed rested az first on state /
ments which needed confirmation and 5
that any government might feel that I
before protesting against the treat 4
ment of combatants it needed further
evidence which would carry certainty .
to every fair mind
IN, fbie Ground fc-. oo,rtsr,,, ;,
went on. the fact that the United
States has always, following the ad-
vice Of Washington, endeavored to
keep itself clear of European entan-
clements in old world diplomacy"
Regarding the questions of interna-
L!onal law and usage which have arisen
between the United States and the
belligerents. Viscount Bryce said:
When a neutral IS urged by its citi-
sens to demonstrate with belligerents
On the exercise OF any rights which the
claim. it cannot. unless
convinced there is no substance in the
grievance. decline to present the case
II its subjects.
III il is suggested. as I think It has
leen somewhere. that IN the matter Of
,Ontraband and the right of search
powerful peCunia-y interests have
ried 10 influence the administration.
hose who hsve watched the recent
IN America viii agree
hat nothing Is 50 I'm popular there as
What Is called big business. and that {
NJ administration supposed 70 be
1eidinE TO its pressure would Go 50
e rs peril 50 far as ca Judge |
here IS no foundation Tor any such !
otion'
All the news all the time-The Argus.