The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-06-13
BRYlAN'S ANSWER
TO HIS CRITICS
CONTINUED from page IL

answered and in her answer not only
has presented a number Of alleged
facts which, if her judgment, justified
the deviation which she has made
from the ordinary rules APPLICABLE in
prize cases, but she has suggested ar.
bitration. A rejection of the argu-
ments which she has presented and
Of the allegations made, together with
reiteration Of the original demands
as made, constitute very different
situation from that which existed
when the original demand was made.
AS ! have before stated, my fear has
been that, owing to the feeling exist
ing in Germany, the government might
upon receipt, of such a note under
such circumstances break off diplo-
matte relations and thus create
situation out of which war might
come with the intention Of either
side.
Il am sure that the president does
not want war and that the people do
not want war: have no reason to be-
lieve that either the German govern
| ment or the German people want war.
But war, calamity at any time, Is
especially to be avoided now. because
our nation is relied upon by both neu-
trails and belligerents as the one ma
ton which can exert an influence to-
ward bringing that war to an end. If
we were, by accident to be drawn in
| to the conflict, We would not only
| surrender the opportunity to act as a
mediator, but We might become re-
sponsible for drawing other nations
into the conflict. When we see how
one nation after another has been
| i l,s- H.
confidence that any one can calculate
with certainty the results that might
follow if we become embroiled in the
war.
"No one will be happier than II
the presidents plan results In a
peaceful settlement. but no one was
in position to say what effect our
note would have upon Germany or
what results would follow If she in
anger broke off diplomatic relations
and I was not only unwilling to as.
sumo the responsibility for the risks
incurred-risks which no one could
with any degree measure-cut I felt
that having done all I could in the
cabinet, it was my dncy to undertake
outside of the cabinet the work upon
which l have entered.
81 have no doubt the country will
unanimously support the president
during the war, If SO great misfor
tune should overtake us, but / believe
that the chances of war will be less
ened in proportion as the country ex
presses itself in favor Of peace-no'
peace at any price'-but peace ir
preference to war waged for the re
dress Of such grievances as We have
against Germany, at least against
war until we have given to Germany
the opportunity which we are pledged
to give Great Britain, France ant
Russia-to have every difference o.
every character submitted to an In
ternational commission of investiga
ton. I would contend as earnestl.
for application of treaty proposal t.
allies as / contended in the case o
Gerncny. If the proposal is sound
! it ought to be applied to every coun
try with which we have difference
and it ought to be applied at all.
think it better to suggest 1t In thi
beginning than to adopt 1t later afte
a seeming reluctance to apply 1t.
az understand that Secretary Lans
| ing has already given out statemnn
| correcting an inaccuracy that appear
| ed in the morning papers. l appre
| ciate his kindness. 1t is true that
saw the final draft of~the note jus
] before my resignation took effect an
it contained an important change.
had no knowledge of this change
= the time nv resignation was tendere
1 and accepted. This change, Will
t very much softening the note, wa
. not however. sufficient in my judt
ment to justify me in asking permi: