Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-13
GRAY DEFINES DUTY
OF UNITED STATES
Justice Says it Must Assert Vital
Character Of Obligations Of
International Law.
NOTE TO GERMANY Is PRAISED

ATLANTIC CITY, n. j., June IL.
Judge George Gray of Wilmington,
Del, former United States senator
and a member of the international
permanent court Of arbitration under
The Hague conference, addressing
the New Jersey Bar association in
convention here today, asserted that
the time had come "as never before
in our eventful history" for Amer
lea 70 assert the vital character and
binding force of the obligations
which international law has placed
upon belligerent nations.
The destruction Of unarmed mer-
chant ships without regard to the
lives OF safety of non-combatant pas
sengers and crew was characterized
by Judge Gray as $50 revolving to the
commonest instincts OF humanity
as to be presumably unthinkable in
the minds of those who framed this
convention" TAT The Hague.)
DlKn1ticNt Ntenf anu NAfoAks
OF President Wilson's note to Germany
Judge Gray had this to say:
1T was with "a decent respect TO the
opinion OF mankind that our president
has with dignity, clearness and force
declared the obligations OF this law in
his recent message 10 one OF the war
ring powers and has denounced the de-
struction OF an unarmed merchant YES
sci which involved the sacrifice of the
lives Of more than 100 innocent men,
women and children. including more than
100 peaceable citizens OF our own coun-
try. We all know how the wording OF
his message has stirred the hearts OF
his oountrymen and aroused in his sup
port the patriotic spirit of the whole ma
ton for which he was spokesman.
There was the strength o. moderation
in It's tone that bef.ttee ,he character OF
a great law abiding and justice loving
people. Upon that impregnahle rock of
law and humanity the president has
taken his stand In this we have given
and will continue TO give him our conf
dence ana support"
Amid all the savagery and lawless-
ness which have been engendered by this
unprecedented strife" Judge Gray said.
referring 10 the European war. respect
for international law has not entirely
persisted. It's precepts are stiIl appealed
20 by the warning nations and its obll-
cations are recognized even In their vio-
iation. However this may be for those
nations VINO arc fortunate enough TO be
outside Of this terrible conflict and who
have proclaimed their neutrality, the
positive rules Of international law are
not silent. but have become OF transeen-
dant importance.
Time TO Assert Neutral Rights.
Never before IN out eventful history
has the time been 80 opportuns or the
conditions 90 exisont Ter our country 20
assert the rights that belong TO neutral
nation and to invoke the principles of
that great body OF law. whose existence
and development has been one OF the
browning giories OF our civilization. II
Is for us as never before 10 stand up for
and assert the vital character and bind
ing force OF the obligation which this
law has imposed upon belligerent nations,
for the protection OF neutral rights. In
doing 40 we are performing a service 20
the world and humanity and even 20 the
belligerent nations themselves"
In conclusion Judge Gray said:
we stand today in the shadow OF
great world calamity and our hearts and
minds arc filled with serious thoughts
and anxiety as TO the attitude OF our
country as q neutral power. Whatever
position we assume there Is no doubt
that we shall present united front to
the nations OF the world. American ira
dition forblds us to believe otherwise
than that our position would be based
upon justice and that we shall maintain
the right as God gives US TO see the
right"