The Keota news., 1915-07-30

view Wnen the existing rules OF inter.
national law were formulated. and 1t
is ready to make every reasonable al.
lowance for these novel and unex-
pected aspects Of war at sea: but It
cannot consent to abate any essential
or fundamental right Of its people be-
cause Of mere alteration of circum.
stance.
The rights of neutrals in time Of
war are based upon principle, not up
ON expediency, and the principles are
immutable.
1t is the duty and obligation Of bel
ligerents to find o way to adapt the
new circumstances to them.
The events Of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it 10
possible and practicable to conduct
such submarine operations as have
characterized the activity of the i'm
perial German navy within the so
called war zone in substantial accord
with the accepted practices Of regu-
lated warfare.
The whole world has looked with in
terest and increasing satisfaction at
the demonstration Of that possibility
by German naval commanders.
It Is manifestly possible. therefore.
to lift the whole practice Of submarine
war above the cfiticism which 1t has
aroused and remove the chief causes
Of offense.
esrmany's ProposaI Rejected.
In view of the admission Of lille.
gality made by the imperial German
government, when 1t pleaded the right
Of retaliation In defense Of its acts,
and in view Of the manifest possibil.
ity Of conforming to the established
ment of the United States cannot bo-
lieve that the imperial German gov.
ernment will longer refrain from dis.
avowing the wanton act Of its naval
commander in sinking the Lusitania or
from offering reparation of the Amer
lean lives lost, 90 far as reparation
can be made for . needless destruc'
ton Of human life by an illegal act.
The government Of the United
States, while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit In which 1t IL made. can.
not accept the suggestion OF the Inn
perial German government that Ger
tain vessels be designated and agreed
upon which shall be free on the seas
now illegally prescribed. The very
agreement would, by implication. sub.
ject other vessels to illegal attack and
would be q curtailment, and therefore
q abandonment Of the principles for
which this government contends. and
hich in times of calmer c0unsels ev.
cry nation would concede as Of course.
The government of the United States
and the imperial German government
are contending for the same great OBJ.
ject. have long stood together in urg-
ing the very principles upon which the
government Of the United States now
solemnly insists.
They are both contending. for the
freedom of the seas. The government
of the United States will continue to
contend for that freedom. from what
ever quarter violated. without compro'
mise and at any cost.
scrupulous Observance Demanded.
1t invites. the practical cooperation
of the imperial German government
at this time, when cooperation may
accomplish most and this great com.
mon object be most strikingly and
effectively achieved. The imperial
German government expresses the
hope that this object may be in some
measure accomplished even before
the present war ends. 1t can be.
The government Of the United
States not only feels obligated to In.
sist upon it, by whomsoever violated
or ignored and in the protection Of its
own citizens, but is also deeply In
terested in seeing 1t made practicable
between the belligerants themselves,
and holds itself ready at any time to
act as the common friend who may
be privileged to suggest way.