Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1915-08-04

Ills government regards as grave and
unlustlnable violations of the rights of
American citizens by German naval
commanders.
hiegal and inhuman acts, however
JustIfiable they may be thought to be
against an enemy who is believed to
nave acted in contravention of law
ana humanity, are manifestly inde-
fensible when they deprive neu,raIs of
their acknowledged rights, particular
~ when they violate the right to life
Itself. If beIIigerent cannot retaIiate
against an enemy without inlurinu the
ives OF neutraIs, as we'll as their prop
erty, humanity, as we'll as Justice and
a oue regard for the dignity of neutral
powers, should dictate that the prac-
tice be discontinued. II persisted in II
would In such circumstances consti.
tute an objectionable offense against
the sovereignty of the neutral nation
affected.
Recognizes Changed Conditions.
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
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 it's people be-
cause OF mere alteration of circum-
stances. The rights of neutrals in
time OF war are based upon principle,
not upon expediency, and the prin-
c1ples are immutable. 1t is the duty
and obligation of belligerents to find
a way to adapt the new circumstances
to them.
The events Of the past two months
have clearly indicated that 1t 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 ac-
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 wantcn act
of Its naval commander In sinking the
Lusitania or from offering reparation
for the American lives lost, SO far as
reparation can be made for a needless
act
Cannot Accept Suggestion.
1.-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 a 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 soIemnIy insists. They
are both contending 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. 1t invites the practical
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
nay be In some measure accomplished
even before the present war ends. 1t
IAN be. The government of the United
States not only feels obliged to insist
lpon it, by whomsoever violated or
gnored, in the protection of its own
citizens, but is also deeply interested
n seeing 1t made practicable between
= Lo11;oorop+C themselves pnd holds