The Yale expositor., 1915-07-29

fundamental right of its people be
cause OF mere alteration of cir
cumstance. The rights of neutrals
In time of war are based upon prin-
ciple, 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.
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 looked with
interest and increasing satisfaction
at the demonstration OF that posi-
bility by German naval command
ers. 1t is manifestly possible, there
fore, to lift the whole practice Of
submarine attack above the criti-
cism which 1t has aroused and re-
move the chief causes of offense.
In view of the admission of H.
legality made by the Imperial gov
eminent when it pleaded the right
of retaliation in defense of its acts,
and in view of the manifest posi-
bility OF conforming to the estab-
lished rules of naval warfare, the
government Of the United States
cannot believe that the imperial
government will longer refrain from
disavowing the wanton act of its
naval commander in sinking the
Lusitania or from offering repara-
ton for the American lives lost, so
far as reparation can be made for
needless destruction 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 designated and
agreed upon which shall be free on
the seas now illegally prescribed.
The very agreement would, by inn
plication. subject other vessels to H.
legal attack and would be a curtail-
ment and therefore an abandonment
OF the principles for which this gov
eminent contends and which in
times of clamor counsels every ma
ton would concede as of course.
hn 0f An 4
States and the Imperial German gov
eminent are contending for the same
great object, have long stood to-
gether in urging the very principles
upon which the government of the
United States now so solemnly in
sists. They are both contending for
the freedom of the seas. The gov
eminent of the United States will
contend for that freedom, from
whatever quarter violated, without
compromise and at any cost. 1t in
vites the practical cooperation OF
the Imperial German government at
this time when cooperation may ac-
complish most and this great, COM
mon object be most strikingly and eff
fectively achieved.
The Imperial German government
expresses the hope that this object
may be in some measure accom-
plished even before the present war
ends. 1t can be. The government
of the United States not only feels
obliged to insist upon it, by whom
soever violated or ignored, in the
protection of its own citizens, but
is also deeply interested in seeing
1t made practicable between the bel
ligerents themselves, and holds itself
ready at any time to act as the COM
mon friend who may be privileged to
suggest a way.
In the meantime the very value
which this government sets upon the
long and unbroken friendship between
the people and government of the
United States and the people and
government of the German nation
impels 1t to press very solemnly upon
the Imperial German government the
necessity for a scrupulous observance
of neutral rights in this critical mat
ter. Friendship itself prompts it to
say to the imperial government that
repetition by the commanders of Ger
man naval vessels of acts in contra
vention of those rights must be re-
garded by the government of the Uni.
ted States, when they affect American
citizens, as deliberately unfriendly.
LANSING.