The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1915-12-31
THE "ANcoNA" CASE.

THE ''ANc0NA'' CASE.
Someone has lately written 'sTkat ma.
ton is nearest neutral which most equal.
~ dissatisfies the warning nations"
The United States, for the last year
has been essaying this difficult role, and
considering the conditions has succeeded
fairly we'll.
There has however been one great diff
ference in our relations with the central
powers and our disputes With Germany
and Austria. Our difference with Eng
land and France, though irritating, are
over matters which may be settled by
diplomacy and damages may be paid 10
cash and by national apology. With
Germany and Austria our disputes are
over serious things that concern human
life.
The seizure of ':contraband of war" by
England and the taking of persons from
American passenger ships bound for
neutral ports may BE grave infractions Of
international law as viewed from an
American standpoint; but these things
can be condoned. %:
During our own Civil War, an Ameri-
can cruiser took two southern emissaries
from an English passenger ship. but
the act was later made the subject of
apology BY President Lincoln and the
mon allowed TO 90.
Incidentally, it also might be mention
Led, that by the time the -southerners
arrives in France the emperor had been
persuaded that the cause of the south
was hopeless and when they arrived, he
declined to recognize the Confederacy as
= nation.
We suspect that IN some fof the sci.
zures made BY the English, that they
expect finally to pay we'll for the cargoes
and chips, but in the meantime the food
|stu6s do not 60 to Germany.
But with the German.Austrian subma-
rine warfare. it is somewhat different
First, it is an entirely new question
Tor which international law has no ans.
wer. Second, almost the only weapon,
and the only efficiency Of the sub.msrine
is secrecy. Its function is to strike
without waning; strike quick and disap.
pear. Any other action exposes the
submarine to destruction by other men
of.war that may be near. Indeed, il the
passenger ship discovers the submarine
10 time, it has chance Of rammiag the
latter vessel and destroying it.
The entente powers declared haook-
ade against Germany. Germany in re-
turn declared blockade against Eag-
land and France. c'he only method Of
enforcing that blockade by Germany
was to torpedo merchant ships with sub
marines.
As we said, il this latter warfare had
concerned property or prisoners only.
the matters might be pstehed up sooner
or later by diplomacy aad arbitration,
but unfortunately ships cannot be tor.
pedoed, without warning, without loss
of human life.
When these human lives are those Of
Americans, who are legally right in be-
ing on passenger ships, the question
becomes q very grave one.
President Wilson took the advanced
position in the Lusitana affair that tor.
pedoing passenger ship without warn.
ing was inhuman and now Secretary
Lansing, in his note to Austria over the
sinking of the "Ancona,' practically
says that the United States will not
allow the submarines Of any country to
sink ships on which Americans are pas.
sengers, without warning. and further,
that after the fact is established there
can be no farther argument.
It is this last issue that has made the
relations between this country and Aus
tria to be 30 strained that it Is expected
that at least severance Of diplomatic
relations is likely to ensue.
Shall the United States permit the
submarines to sink without warning un..
armed ships having American passengers
on board.
This the question that may draw Us
into this awful European war. How
shall We decide it It is . very vital
question. Tho people of the United
States must decide it unless Germany
and Austria agree with President Will