TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-08-07


famous Secretaries were all pre-
pared with the incest regard to polite
diplomatic custom. And surely those
documents did not lack power. ARM
mesa. dignity or effect.
1t IL to be regretted that Secretary
Lansing could not have followed the
usage Of those greater men who pre-
ceded him.
II Is quite possible to state even
declaration OF undoubted rights In
form which may be Justly offensive
to the government to which II In ad-
dressed.
To be perfectly candid. we think
that II Herr Won Jagow were to fol-
low Secretary Lansing's example and
return an answer couched In the
same brusQue and imperative lang
uage the indignation in this country
would be very great.
And we think. in all soberness and
earnestness--yes. and In oil patriot
ism-that at this time, amid the
manifold perplexities. distress. miBer-
les and caiamities Of war-cursed
Europe. that any communication to
any of the European powers should
be highly distinguished by that gen.
erous and polite diplomatic express
sion which not only does never weak
ell. but does always powerfully
strengthen the arguments Of a Just
and courageous people.
Our concern over the unfortunate
tone adopted by Secretary lansing
arises from no concern for Germany.
It arises from d deep and anxious
concern for America.
Nay. more than that. II arises
from a deep and anxious concern for
the welfare OF the race OF which Ger
mans, Britons. Frenchmen. Russians,
Italians and Americans are ali alike
members-that great and dominat-
ing race whose forces and vitalities
are being 80 terribly sappsd by this
dreadful war.
We long for peace in distracted
Europe with q great longing.
We had hoped-and we still hope
that IN the disposition Of events
and the good providence Of Almighty
God this nation OF ours might be the
acceptable peaeernaksr - the Just.
righteous and impartial people to
whose unimpsachAble neutrality and
friendlineas the bleed
ing and var-wsary nations would
naturally turn for kindly counsel
and unselnsh mediation.
We can zee no reason why this
country should not have occupied
that position Of NOBLY AND
USEFUL ISOLATION.
Cttizens, doss II not seem TO you
all. in these troubled times. in these
times of awful distress, in this Arm
ageddon OF the nations. that we who
dwell apart and IN peace can well
afford to deal with all Of our war
torn kindred peoples across the Sea
with q wise and nobly generous for
bearanesf
Is there any service 10 the world
and TO the times 70 come which could
more ennoble American statesman
ship than to maintain q peaceful
stand In the midst Of this turmoil
and terror and 70 prevent. by the ut
most stretch Of courtesy and Of for
the precipitation OF this
into this dreadful European
war?
The fatal weakness In the position
Of all nsutrals now 10 that the as
that rights Of neutrah are
fixed and immutabis- 10 not sup
ported by the accepted code Of inter-
national law.
Neutral rights on the soss are not
now determined By international
law. n
We, for instance. maintain that
law protects 4 British
ship upon which American citizens
are voyAgtnE - passengers from
awful attack by q German subma-
rine. except under rules Of visit and
search
The German government maintains
hat the presence Of American citi-
,ens upon British ships does not pro-
.ect those ships from lawful attack
BY German submarines without Al
visitation and search.
Now. 1t Is perfectly clear that here
arises at once legal disputs--an
lawsuit. And unless
awsuits are determined by violence
md force they can only be settled by
'eferencs TO q competent tribunal.
Naturally. Germany will no more
admit that the President Of the Unit
I'd States can formulate new inter
rational law and apply II without
iermanys assent than would we
Americans admit that the Kaiser can |