Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-24

Continued from Page One.)
governments as Irrelevant to any dis
cussion with the Imperial German gov
eminent that this government regards
as grave and unjustifIable violations OF
the rights Of American citizens by Ger
man naval commanders
illegal and inhumane acts. however.
justifiable they may be though TO be
against an enemy. who Il believed 10
have acted IN contravention Of law and
humanity, are mantfestly indefensible
when they deprive neutrals OF their
acknowledged rights. particularly when
they violate the right to life itself.
III belliRerent cannot retaliate against
an enemy without inturing the lives Of
rieutrals a. well as their property, hui
mainly. as well as justice and a due
regard for the dignity OF neutral powers
should dictate that the practice be dis
continued. II persisted in. II will under
such circumstances constitute an unpard-
enable offense against the sovereignty OF
the neutral nation affected.
ReaIizea the Condition.
THE government OF the United States
Is not unmlndful OF tho extraordinary
tOH0lNlunH ETeAhSu W AtnH WhE VI VI
the radical alterations OF circumstances
and method Of attack produced by the
use Of instrumentalities OF naval war
fare, which the nations Of the world
cannot have had in view. when the
existing rules OF international law were
formulated. and Il is ready to make every
reasonable allowance for these novel
and unexpected aspects Of war at sea;
but II cannot consent TO abate any es-
sentionaI or fundamental right OF It's
people. because OF a mere alteration of
circumstances. The rights of neutrals In
time OF war are based upon principle
not upon expediency. and the principles
are immutabIe. II 10 the duty and obi
CATION o nbellgerents to find a way to
adapt the new circumstances to them.
THE events of the last two months
have clearly indicated that II Ii possible
and practicable TO conduct such subma-
rine operations as have characterized
the activity Of the Imperial German navy
within the socailed war zone. in sub
stantiaI accord with the accepted prac-
tees OF regulated warfare.
world Interested.
THE whole world has looked with In
terest and increasing satisfaction at the
demonstration OF that possibility by Ger
man naval commanders. II IL manifested
possible therefore 60 lift the whole prac-
tice of submarine attack above the criti-
cism. which II has aroused and remove
the chief causes of offense.
I'm View OF the admission OF illegalIty
made by the imperial government when
II pleaded the right OF retaliation In de-
Tense OF It's acts and In view Of the mani
fest possibility of conforming to the es-
tablished rules Of naval warfare. the
government Of the United States can
not believe that the imperial govern
ment will longer refrain from disayow-
ing tho waFiton act OF It's naval com
uiander IN sinking the Lusitania or Of
fering reparation OF the American lives
lost so far as reparatlon can DO made
for a needless destruction OF human life
by an illegal act
Appreciates Friendly spirit.
'Tne government OF the United Staten,
while not indifferent to the friendly
spirit In which II IL made. cannot accept
the suggestion OF the imperial govern.
ment that certain vessels DO designated
and agreed upon which shall be free on
the seas now illegally prescribed. Tho
very agreement would. by implication
subject other vessels to illegal attack
and would be a curtallment and there.
foro an abandonment OF the principles
for which his government contends an,
which In times Of falmer counsels every
nation would concede as OF course
THE government OF the United States