The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-06-17

azaaGAKs HAVE FAN Hxcvsz
NEW YORK, June H. Germany g
contention that she had the right to
violate the neutrality of Belgium be-
cause that country, by its very neu-
trality was forced into being an ally
Of France, is correct was the asser-
tien Of Professor George w. Kirchwey
Of Columbia university, in addressing
an audience at Labor temple.
DR.. Kirchway, an authority on inter
national law and formerly dean of Co
1umbia law school, discussed "The New
international Law and America in the
Present Crisis and commended that
while he personally did not accept the
position Of Germany on the sinking of
the Lusitania, that country undoubt-
eddy, under the new International law,
had, whether just or not, legal case
for its defense that would be settled
legally, no matter what the outcome Of
the present crisis.
Describing himself as "a real neu-
trial." who was both pro-Germap and
pro-British, nti-German and anti Brit
ish, he characterized real neutrality as
q charitable attitude of a nation which
had an understanding with other ma
tions, although not necessarily approx
ing Of their acts.
Debatable Question.
"The Indignation over the sinking of
the Lusitania,'' said Professor Kirch-
wey, "makes it hard for the American
people to believe the German people
are really justified in regarding the in
cident as an act of war. Under the
new international law it is a debatabe
question whether it is an act of war or
an act of vandalism. The sinking of
the Lusitania is only part of the whole
case of the neutrals against the bel
igerents.
''The same applies to the violation
of Belgian neutrality. Because Bel
GUM was in the position she was an
obstacle to Germany and became part
of France, her first line of defense,
an ally Of France, the minute Germany
moved against the country just the
same as she would have become an ally
of Germany had France moved in that
direction. That is the German conten-
ton and Germany is right.
Aids Great Britain.
"The more the United States OF any
other nation insists upon it's right as
aiding those who have command of the
seas. If Germany had continued to do
what she started out to do-wrest the
seas from England-then she would
have been on the other foot.
International law sustains us in our
position of shipping munitions of war to
the belligerents, Germany contends that
because she is unable to buy them we
are in reality fighting for the allies.
That is not our fault. Our rights as
noutrals say that we shall offer these
munitions to all the belligerents just
the same as it says that Americans
shall sail on any ship they please.
"The question is, shall we eliminate,
ourselves entirely or take an active part
on one side or the other? That was
the position in the time of Frederick
the Great, but not in the twentieth
century. So the alternative offered us
today is suicide or war.
''The war today has put the whole
world out of joint. The world by the
modern advance of civilization and hui
manity, has become one great body, so
that if any part of that body is sick
the whole body suffers. Doesn t that
show how out of joint with the world is
the whole system of war?'
After asking whether we should ego
back to the eighteenth century,,
where neutral rights gave way to the
rights of belligerents, or set our face
forward to create a world of good will,
Professor kirchwey said that the lat
ter could only be accomplished by the
United States standing up for its neu-
trail rights. The question then resolved
itself down to "What are we going to
do about itq'
He asserted there were other ways
Of standing by ones principles with
cut war and said that the United States
was trustee for the whole world.
The problem is not to be solved by
the exchange of polite but firm notes,
the speaker asserted. "They do NOT
advance the settlement, but merely
prOlong the deadlock.
elm my opinion, a great deal of in
justice has been done by the public te
Mr.. Bryan in the position he took that
led to his resignation. ! believe Mr.
Bryan became convinced that the bust
ness of exchanging notes in which one
said You must and the other side
said we won u only increased the ir
ritation and would eventually lead tc
war. He believes that the American
people should take hand in forming
the foreign policy of the United States
and 80 ! interpret his resignation as ar
appeal to his countrymen to take up the
course they think should be adopted II
that is his motive it is a commendabl,
one.
emo matter how great an outras.
was the sinking of the Lusitania if ",
should 20 to war over that act it would
be still greater outrage
On the ground that the United State
was not the only country suffering from
its neutrality. Professor Kirchwe,
would have an international conference,
by neutrals, for the purpose Of insisting
upon their rights, and by arbitration
bring about a settlement of the Who'll.
difficulty.