The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1915-07-30
RIGHTS OF NEUTRALs.

States is, however, keenly disap-
pointed to find that the imperial
German Government regards itself
as in large degree exempt from the
obligation to observe these princi-
pies, even where neutral vessels are
concerned, by what it believes the
policy and practice of the Govern
ment of Great Britain to be in the
present war with regard to neutral
commerce. The imperial German
Government will readily understand
that the Government of the United
States cannot discuss the policy of
the Government of Great Britain
with regard to neutral trade except
with that Government itself, and
that it must regard the conduct of
other belligerent Governments as
irrelevant to any discussion with the
imperial Government of what this
government regards as grave and un-
justifiable violations of the rights of
American citizens by German naval
commanders Illegal and inhuman
acts, however unjustifiable they may
be thought to be against an enemy
who is believed to have acted in con-
travention of law and humanity, are
manifestly indefensible when they
deprive neutrals of their acknoWl-
o1c,od r;rb+c no rtin11lar1U whom thew
violate the right to life itself. II a
belligerent cannot retaliate against
an enemy without injuring the lives
of neutrals, as we'll as their property,
humanity, as we'll as justice and a
due regard for the dignity OF neu-
trail powers should dictate that the
practice be discontinued. II per
sisted in, it would in such circum-
Istances constitute an unpardonaDle
offense against the sovereignty of
the neutral nation affected. The
Government of the United States is
not unmindful of the extraordinary
conditions created by this war or OF
| the radical alterations of circum-
stance and method of attack pro-
duced by the use Of instrumentalities
of naval warfare which the nations
of the world cannot have had in
view when the existing rules OF in
ternational law were formulated and
it is ready to make every reasonable
advance for these novel and unex-
pected aspects of war at sea; but 1t
cannot consent to abate any essential
or fundamental right of its people
because a mere alteration of circum-
stance. The rights of neutrals in
time of war are based upon princl-
pie, not upon expediency, and the
principles are immutable. 1t is the
duty and obligation of belligerents
to find way to adapt the new cir
cumstances to them.
SEARCH PRACTICABLE.
The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it 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 accepted practices of regulated
warfare. The whole world has look
cd with interest and increasing sat
isfaction at the demonstration of
that possibility by German naval
commanders. 1t is manifestly pos
sible, therefore, to lift the whole
practice of submarine attack above
the criticism which it has aroused
and remove the chief cause Of Of
fense.
In view of the admission of ille-
gality made by the imperial Govern
ment when it pleaded the 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 Govern
ment of the United States cannot be-
lieye that the imperial Government
will longer refrain from disavowing
the wanton act of it's naval COM
Imander in sinking the Lusitania or
from offering reparation for the
American lives lost, so far as repara-
ton can be made for a needless de-
struction of human life by an illegal
act.
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
certain vessels be designed and
agreed upon which shall be free on
the seas now illegally prescribed. The
very agreement would, by implica-
tion, subject other vessels to illegal
attack and would be curtailment,
land therefore an abandonment, OF
the principles for which this Gov
ernment contends, and which in
times of calmer counsels every ma
ltion would eoncede as of course.