The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-07-29

other belligerent governments as ir-
relevant to any discussion with the
imperial German government of what
this government regards as grave and
uniustifable violations of the rights of
American citizens by German naval
commanders. ...
illegal and inhuman acts, however
justifiable they may be thought to be
against an enemy who Is believed to
have acted in contraVention Of law
and humanity, are manifestIy indie
feRslble when they deprive neutraIs Of
their acknowledged rights, particular
" when they violate the right to life
itself. If a beIliaerent cannot retaIiate
agalnst an enemy without injurinq the
lives of neutraIs, az we'll az their prop
erty, humanity, as we'll as justice and
a due regard for the dIartty Of neutral
powers, should dictate that the prac-
tiee be discontinued. II persisted In It
would In sueh circumstances censti-
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 1t
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 neutraS in
time of war are based upon principle,
not upon expediency, and the prin-
ciples are immutabloA 1t Is the duty
and obligation of belligerents to find
way to adapt the new circumstances
to them. ... r..s.
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 soecalled war
zone in substantial accord with the &C
cepted 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 1t pleaded tho. right Of
retaliation In defense Of Its 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 dIsaVoWlns the wanton act
Of ito naval commander In sinking the
Lusitania or from offering reparatIon
for the American lives lost, so far as
reparatlon can be made for a 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 1t 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
iect 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 aov-
eminent are oontending 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 free dom
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 II 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
ly 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. It
can be. The government of the United
States not only feels obliged to insist
upon 1t, 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
common friend who may be privileged
In on oroaaf b