The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-05
SUBMARINE Warfare AND
THE DUTY OF OUR NATION.
An American Lawyers View.

tral nations and all groups OF CITIZENS
representing every shade OF opinion
within these nations. There can be no
doubt az to the absolute lawlessness and
unspeakable enormity of the act. The
warning issued by the German Embassy
on the eve OF the ships departure ag-
gravated rather than lessened the Of
fence. That warning was an afront to
our nation, being in bold defiance OF
our protest and our solemn warning to
Germany that she would be held to n
strict accountability for the loss OF n
American ship or any American life
upon any ship. whether neutral or be-
longing to the enemy. Our apparent
acquiescence In that warning was not an
abandonment OF u position. and. as
pointed out in President Wilson's note
OF May 10, could not be interpreted as
such an act.
The American citizens, therefore. who
sailed on the Lusitania were under the
protection of the sovereignty OF the
United States. for the high seas. unlike
the land, are not under the exclusive
Jurisdiction OF any nation. No trenches
can be dug there as In the blood soaked
fields of Flanders. No war zone can be
created there by tho fiat of any nation.
Therefore. contrary to what Is some
times enormously assumed, the position
OF an American citizen upon the high
f'hN Nh'Nbt tl'i "h W
British merchant ship. or whether that
merchant ship Is carrying ~contraband or
not, IL very different from his position
upon British soil. whether In n fortified
town or In the vicinity of an arms fac
tory in an unfortiied town. In other
words, for the purposes of this issue, a
British ship is not a mere prolongation
of British territory. II follows that In
warning Germany that she would he
held to n strict accountability for the
loss of any American ship or any Amer
lean life, we took a correct position and
one from which we cannot now recede.
To recede from 1t now and from the
position formulated In President Will
sons note of May 13. approved by the
American public with substantial una
nimity, would put an indelible stain upon
our national character and render US
impotent for all further useful service
In the councils of the world. Upon this
there must be n general agreement
among all classes OF our citizens.
Whether one Is pro-German or for the
Allies. whether he Is an advocate OF In
ternational courts of Justice. or OF n
strong navy as the only sure reliance
for a nations defence. he must concele
and insist that this indiscriminate
slaughter OF non-combatants upon the
high seas lis opposed TO the conscience of
mankind and ann be tolerated. And
the whole world. both that portion OF II
which We have hitherto considered un-
civilized as well as tho so-called civ
ilized portion NJ II. should not he left In
doubt as to our attitude. Indeed. the
promoters OF the worlds peace should
be even more insistent upon this thar
the ~iingoes. II ever there could he an
issue upon which mankind can he sub
~stantially united in Judgment. this pol
icy OF sinking unarmed merchant ships
without warning and without regard "a
the safety Of passengers and crew Is
such an issue. II ever there could he
an occasion for the effective use OF an
international police force. this would
he the occasion.
Unless this submarine warfare Is
abandoned II would present a unique
opportunity for demonstrating once for
all whether IN international police force
Is n practicable human institution. II
II should prove itself useless for such a
purpose. we should have to abandon this
part OF the programme OF the peace
conferences and dismiss II forever from
our thoughts as an Idle and pernicious
dream.
II these propositions are accepted, and
Il is difficult TO see how there can he
any dissent from them. the duty OF our
nation Is plain. Unless the German
. Government and our Government car
N'lll' W Il SUBSTANTIAL agreement uID'
the fundamental propositions presented
In President Wilson'S note Of May 10
then our self-respect will compel us &c
cease all official intercourse with the
German nation, and our Ambassador
must he withdrawn from Berlin.
II Is by no means clear from IN,
Berlin note that n substantial agree
ment Is Impossible. The Gernan Gov.
eminent has already abandoned it's orig
inal position with respect to American
vessels, and II would not involve any
greater concessions on it's part TO ac,
knowledge fully and frankly our claim.
with respect 20 the lights OF American
citizens. The German Government
through pr. DernhurG. has Informed II.
that one OF It's objects was TO sscur,
the freedom OF the seas. We must hel,
II to realize that ambition lmmediatel,
and insist that from henccforth the free
dom Of the seas shall he absolutely as
snrcd for the safe navigation Of Amer
lean ships II the safe transportation
of American citizens.
T II. however. We should meet with :
final refusal. then official intercours,
must promptly cease, and II this aCtio,
on u part should not he sufficient 4
, bring tho naval authorities Of German,
To their senses. and there should be Z
repetition Of such an net as the slnkins
OF the Gulfl!ght or o: the Lus!tania, wiz
n loss Of American life, then W,
should accept no excuses on the sror,
of mistake or unavoidable accident, ar,
should promptly cease all commercial
-, intercourse with the German nation
! compensatinC so far as practicable thOS,
, OF our citizens who would suffer los,
! from the policy Of non-!uicrcourso. |
: neither official nor commercial non-in
! tercourse should prove cffcCtual I'm nut
| ting an end to this inhuman warfare
then nothing would remain for us hu
! To place the great resources OF our ma
tion at tho service Of the Allies. and. I,
spite Of occasional snccrs and con:emp
, nous d"isparaCement OF these resources
r there can he no illusion among the milf
I tary and naval authorities ~ Germany
: as 10 their potency.
Finally, We should NJ once bring on,
navy to tho highest condition Of Ell
cheney and preparedness against tn,
possibility OF being obliged 10 use Il I,
perform the service of an lnternat!ona
police force, .hnd while we should A
once invite tho cooperation OF all neutra
nations. we should not wait upon thei
action. Indeed, we should be proud I,
he the leaders in a righteous movemen
> 10 express and enforce the conscience o
mankind. GEORGE +. CANrIrLD.
NEW YORK, June 3.
MlgnOn's Lied.
Q To TIL EprToR OF THE SrN-Sfr: Per
= nit n reader TO draw your attention Il