Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-06-09

lCOnJlnued First q
frankly stated to Germany that we
are willing to apply in this case the
principles which we are bound by
treaty to apply to disputes between
the United States n thirty countries
with which we have made treaties for
investigating all disputes of every
character and nature.
These treaties. negotiated under
this administration. make war practi-
cally impossible between this country
and these governments representing
nearly three-fourths of all the people
of the world.
Big Nations Included
Among the nations with which we
have these treaties are Great Britain,
France and Russia. No matter what
disputes may arise between us and
these treaty nations, we agree that
there shall be no declaration and no
commencement of hostilities until the
matters in dispute have been investi-
gated by an international commission
and a years time is allowed for inves-
tigation n report. This plan was
offered to all the nations without any
exception whatever and Germany was
one OF the nations that accepted the
principle, being the twelfth, I think.
to accept. No treaty was actually en-
tered into with Germany. but I can
not see that that should stand in the
way when both nations endorsed the
principle. I do not know whether
Germany would accept the offer. but
our country should, in my judgment,
make the offer.
Would Relieve Tension
Such an offer. IL accepted. would
at once relieve the tension and silence
all the 1ingoes who are demanding
war. Germany has always been a
friendly nation and a great many of
| our nennla ara nf CarY,,aa a-,.oE,,-
Why had We not dealt with Germany
according to this plan to which the ma
ton has pledged its support"
Discusses Second Point
h second point of difference il
as to the course which should be pur-
on belligeTent ships or with argoes OF
ammunition.
why should an American citizen be
permitted to involve his country in
war by travelling upon a belligerent
ship when he knows that the ship will
pass through a 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 country
II not for his own safety, avoid dan
ger when avoidance is possible.
1T is a very one-sided citizenship
that compels a government to. go tc
war over a citizens rights and vet re-
lieve the citizen of all obligations to
consider his nations welfare. 1 do not
know how far the President can legal
ly go in actually preventing Ameri-
cans from travelling on %belligerent
ships, but I believe the government
should go as far as it can and thai
in case of doubt it should give the
benefit of the doubt to the govern
ment.
But wen il the government could
not legally prevent citizens from trav-
ling on belligerent ships it could, and
in my judgment, should earnestly ad-
wise American citizens not to risk
themselves or the peace of their coun.
try and ave no doubt thai these
warnings would be needed.
Precedent i'm Mexico
President Taft advised Americans
to leave Mexico when insurrectioT
broke out there and President Wilson
has repeated the advice. This advice
in my judgment, was eminently wise
and | him the same course should
be followed in regard to warning Am
orleans to keep off vessels subject tc
attack.
II think. too. that American pas.
sengers ships should be prohibited
from carrying ammunition. The lives
of passengers ought not to be endan-
gered by cargoes of ammunition
whether that danger ONE from pos.
sible explosions within or from posi-.
BILE attacks from without. Passenger:
and ammunition should not travel to.
gether. The attempt to prevent Am.
lerican citizens from mourning these
risks is entirely consistent with the
effort which our government is making
to prevent attacks from submarines.
THE use of n remedy does not
exclude the use for the other. The
most familiar illustration is to be
found in the action taken by munich
pal authorities during a riot. 1t is
the duty of h mayo to suppress the
mob and to prevent violence but he
does not hesitate to warn citizens tc
keep off the streets during the riots
He does not question their right to
use the streets, but for their own
protection and in the interest of or
der he warns them not to incur the
risks involved in going upon the
streets when men are shooting al
each other.
No Comment at White House
1.-The President does not feel justi-
fed in taking the action above stated.
That is, he does not feel justified,
first, in suggesting the submission OF
the controversy to investigation, OF
second, in warning the people not to
incur the extra hazards In travelling
on ~belligerent ships or on ships carry
ing ammunition. And he may be
right in the position lie has taken
but as a private citizen, 1 am free to
urge both of these propositions and
to call public attention to these RENE
dies il the hope of securing such an
expression of public sentiment as
will support the President in employ
ling these remedies, II, In the future,