The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31
Fire!

the pos she has been accepted. Tur-
key has been received since 1856. Abyss
| snia il not yet In this social union.
But there are grades Of participation
China has entered upon relations with
European States within the last fifty
years with a minimum Of rights and
duties. These bonds have been strength
! cued gradually. But even to-day
China's membership is Of the second
or third grade. Turkey Is not a fun
member. The truth H. that the law
"t nations exists only i'm proportion
to the closeuess Of relations Of the
nations. Common consent is the basis.
condition and proportion OF the !aH
OF nations.
We know that the law Of nations APP
pies only In 50 far a. the States 30
Will. But We know al the same time
that a proper understanding of their
! own interests compols The States to de-
| sire ;he law Of nations TO apply 10
I peace and war. That law Of nations 80
/ desired alone is the real law
The present war has taught MS to
recognize limitations 81 the law Of
nations which we ala not note before.
/ We knew that necessity knows no law
and that the reason for war rules the
manner of making war. But We did
I not know the practical effect OF every
detail OF modern lighting machines
modern powder. cannon, mines, torpe-
does, telephones machine guns. auto
mobiles, submarines and airships.
| We know now that in any future
war we shall not he able 10 object
! 10 many horrible engines OF destruc-
/ ton, but we shall object to the dunn
| dunn bullet. Here Is real law Of
nations. The use ~ dumdum bullets
! Is breaking of the law, for the solid
arity OF civilized states cannot put I'D
with their use. We have had many
violations Of the Geneva convention
and OF the Hague treaties, but the law
Of nations has only been violated. NOT
snnihilated. No State has had the as
surance-and This is the main point
to announce that II places Itself outside
OF or above the conditions set down in
tho conventions.
We must note distinctly In considering
the law of nations its violation In the
destruction OF the neutrality of Bel
GUM. Here one of the old bits Of lum-
Der OF this law of nations is thrown
overheard. The marching into Belriu. n
OF the Germans was not the cause. but a
symptom England and France to-
gether with Belgium had dug tho grave
OF her neutrality long before. Ger
many was to have been Inferred in the
winding sheet of this neutrality.
But Germany outdid her enemies, not
in ignoring Belgian neutrality but in
the military promptness with which
she met the contemplated violation of
this neutrality by the enemy. Every
Government in Europe. and best of all
England, France and Belgium, knew
that in war between France and Ger
many Belgium neutrality was to be
sacrificed to France. All were playing
hide and seek, and no one knew who
would be the FIRST to march in. Bel
GUMS neutrality had long ago ceased
To be a part of the law OF nations Ard
Belgium knew the unreality OF her neu-
trality right and paid the penalty In
blood.
Some one has said that when the war
Is over 1t will be folly to rebuild the
house Of cards termed Law OF Ma
| tions." 1t is true; we want 10 build no
| house OF cards. but solid walls. The
! value of the structure viii lie not SO
much in its height and the breadth of
! It's thoughts as in the positive value of
its statements and limitations, which
will help to reconstruct . real and re-
l liable law Of nations.