South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-27
CASES OF GERMANY AND GREAT
BRITAIN.

violation of our international rights
and OF the most vicious order some
recent announcements on the conduct
Of Great Britain with regard 20 neu-
trail shipping, might soon have render
ed this nation quite as exasperated
toward the Britons as we have been
toward the Germans. The Nebraskan,
as We understand it. was flying the
American flag. headed for home. and
without cargo. contraband or other
wise yet she was torpedOed and forced
TO return TO England. not only in de-
hance OF international law, and OF
Pres't Wilson's recent note TO Ger
many. but in violation of Germany's
own recent promises. Were the ad-
ministration inclined TO regard it SO.
II might perhaps be taken as a decla-
ration Of war in itself.
we were just thinking that it were
pretty tough. the permission that the
British government had expressed a
determination TO require OF our ship
pers, whether OF contra band or no.
before entering a neutral port quite
as insulting. aside from the violence
the Lusitania. But Germany seems
disposed 10 sink our ships. even with
out cargoes. and homeward bound.
More kindly Of Britain, she is preserv-
ing her humanity toward the passen-
gers and crews. such as may refuse to
beg the permission upon search, TO
proceed on their journeys but that
does not settle our right to the free
use OF the seas England can, of
course. pay for the non cOntraband
goods that she conhscates. and per-
haps afford passengers and crews a
safe passage 10 shore, which is some
better than a program of submarine
slaughter, but when it comes TO being
an exaggerated partner with the allies
in their campaign TO "starve Germany
out" and accepting the partnership
without serious protest. that is a quite
different matter.
Love for Great Britain I'm these
United States. especially among the
American born of a few generations.
Is not so great that she can very well
afford 10 trihe with our affections at
this time. All that we have been de-
handing is our rights from Germany,
not because we loved Britain more,
but because we have a right to our
rights, and we have that right from
Great Britain as we'll as from Ger
many In the midst of our neutrality.
refusing to favor or disfavor any bel
ligerent because OF its strength or
weakness on the seas. England, we
must concede has been at an advan-
tage with respect TO purchases from
Us. especially OF munitions and arms
but suppose that by way of retaliation,
embargo were 10 be placed upon such
contraband. shutting it off. with the
same neutrality as of old. from all the
belligerents? We do not believe
Britain would like il. We anticipate
that the military starvation of the al
lies that would result would be quite
as effective as the allied effort to
'-starve out Germany by shutting off
all possible transfers of foods for non
combatants.
AS il has stood to date any embargo
upon shipments Of arms or ammuni-
ton would have been a violation Of
has been none Of our concern that
Germany swept from the seas has been
unable 20 come here and get war
supplies as England has done. Ger
many would have been buying in
American markets If she could have
gotten here. England. cold-blooded
as II may seem, had earned the mon
Opoly by her superior sea power
Neither could il justify Germany in
seeking 20 hold us responsible because
of her own weakness thence proceed
ing to sink our ships or murder our
people. violating the rules OF legiti-
mate warfare. yet. England should
know that il is within the power OF
the United States. through special act
OF congress that would call for a spe-
cial session. 10 do some of the things
that Germany has suggested 10 us. and
still remain neutral
on the face OF It. at least. il would
seem that the United States could
place an embargo on all munitions
and arms with respect 10 all beliger-
ents. and continue neutral. just as
well as il can do SO and insist upon
its right 20 sell 10 all beligerents. The
only difference is that at the outbreak
OF the war Germany was something
more OF a sea power than il is now
and was an early purchaser OF arms
and ammunition here. She had no
night. either moral or legal, 10 ex-
pect Us 20 change our attitude on the
subject. the moment her sea power
and ability 10 purchase was shattered.
II would have been a flagrant viola
ton Of neutrality in her favor 10 have
done so. but now If Britain proposes
20 persist in her interference with our
legitimate. and even non-contraband
commerce. using us as an unwilling
weapon against Germany in her
starving out" process. We might be
justified in indulsing a stoppase OF
all contra nd com cree also