Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1915-07-30

AMPCA Id OOTmdu government OF what
this government regards as grave and
unjustifable violations of the rights Of
American citizens by German naval
! commanders.
! illegal and inhuman acts, however
iustifiable they may be thought to be
against an enemy who is believed to
have acted in contravention Of law
and humanity, are manifestly inde-
fensIbIe when they deprive neutrals Of
their acknowledged rights, particular
~ when they violate the right to life
ITSELF If belligerent cannot retaliate
against an enemy without injuring the
lives OF neutrals, as we'll az their prop
erty, humanity, as we'll as justice and
a due regard for the dignity Of neutral
powers, should dictate that the prac-
tice be discontinued. If persisted in it
would in such circumstances consti-
tute an objectionable offense against
the sovereignty of the neutral nation
affected.
Recognizes Changed Conditions.
"The government II the United
States is not unmindl4l 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
tons of the world cannot have had in
view when the existing rules of inter-
national law were formulated and it
is ready to make every reasonable al
| lowance for these novel and unexpect-
| ed aspects of war at sea; but it can
not consent to abate any essential or
fundamental right of its people be-
cause OF mere alteration of circum-
| stances. The rights of neutra1s in
| time of war are based upon principle,
not upon expediency, and the prin-
| ciples are irnmutable 1t is the duty
and obligation of belligerents to find
way to adapt the new circumstances
| to them.
THE events OF the past two months
have clearly indicated that it is pos
sible and practicable to conduct such
! submarine operations as have char
acterized the activity of the imperial
German navy within the so-called war
zone in substantial accord with the &C
copied practices of regulated warfare.
The whole world has looked with in
terest and increasing satisfaction at
| the demonstration of that possibility
by German naval commanders. 1t is
manifestly possible, therefore, to lift
the whole practice of submarine at.
tack above the criticism which it has
aroused and remove the chief causes
of offense.
| ain view of the admission of illegal.
ity made by the Imperial! German gov
eminent when it pleaded the right Of
| retaliation in defense of it's acts and
in view of the manifest possibility Of
conforming to the established rules of
naval warfare, the government Of the
United States cannot believe that the
imperial government will longer re-
frain from disavowing the wanton act
of It's naval commander in sinking the
Lusitania or from offering reparation
for the American lives lost, so far as
reparation can be made for needless
destruction of human life by an illegal
act.
Cannot Accept Suggestion.
The government of the United
States, while not Indifferent to the
| friendly spirit in which it is made,
cannot accept the suggestion of the
imperial German government that GER
tain vessels be designated and agreed
upon which shall be free on the seas
now illegally prescribed. The very
agreement would, by implication, sub
ject other vessels to illegal attack and
would be curtailment and therefore
an abandonment of the principles for
which this government contends and
which in times of calmer counsels
every nation would concede as of
course
"The government of the United
States and the imperial German gov
eminent are contending for the same
great object, have long stood together,
in urging the very principles upon
which the government Of the United
| States now so solemnly insists. They
are both contendlng for the freedom
Of the seas. The government of the
United States will continue to contend
for that freedom, from whatever quar-
ter violated, without compromise and
at any cost. Il invites the practical
cooperation of the imperial German
| government at this time when coop
Grafton may accomplish most and this
great common object be most striking
| ~ and effectively achieved.
Object Can BE Accomplished.
THE imperial German government
expresses the hope that this object
may be in some measure accomplished
even before the present war ends. 1t
can be. The government of the United
States not only feels obliged to insist
upon it, by whomsoever violated or
/ ignored, in the protection of its own
citizens, but is also deeply interested
in seeing it made practicable between
the belligerents themselves. and holds
itself ready at any time to act as the