McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1915-07-30

VI GredL brlIaln with regard TO neutral
trade except with that government it.
self, and that 1t must regard the con-
duct of other belligerent governments
as irrelevant to any discussion with
the imperial German government OF
what this government regards as grave
and unjustifiable violations of the
rights Of American citizens by German
naval commanders. Illegal and inhu-
man acts. however justifiable they may
be thought to be against an enemy who
Is believed to have acted in contra
vention Of law and humanity, are man
ifestly indefensible when they deprive
neutrals of their acknowledged rights,
particularly when they violate the
right to life itself.
IF a belligerent cannot retaliate
against an enemy without injuring the
lives of neutrals, as we'll as their prop
erty, humanity,a as well as justice and
due regard for the dignity OF neutral
powers, should dictate that the prac-
tice be discontinued. If persisted in It
would in such circumstances constitute
an objectionable offense against the
sovereignty of the neutral nation af-
fected.
"The government of the United
States Is not unmindful of the extra
ordinary conditions created by this
war or of the radical alterations Of cir
cumstances and method of attack pro-
duced by the use of instrumentalities
of naval warfare which the nations of
the world cannot have had in view
when the existing rules of interna-
tional law were formulated and 1t is
ready to make every reasonable allow
ance for these novel and unexpected
aspects Of war at sea; but 1t cannot
consent to abate any essential or fun
damental right of its people because of
a mere alteration of circumstance. The
rights of neutrals in time of war are
based upon principle, not upon expe-
diency, and the principles are immuta-
BILE. 1t is the duty and obligation of
belligerents to find way to adapt the
uSW circumstances 10 LnGm.
Preparation FOR Lusirania.
'The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it is posi-.
BILE and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have charac-
terized the activity Of the imperial
German navy within the so-called war
zone in substantial accord with the ac-
cepted practices of regulated warfare.
The whole world has looked with in
terest and increasing satisfaction at
the demonstration of that possibility
by German naval commanders. 1t is
possible, therefore, to lift
the whole practice of submarine at
tack above the criticism which 1t has
aroused and remove the chief cause Of
offense.
I'm view of the admission of illegal
ity made by the imperial German gov
eminent when it pleaded the right Of
retaliation in defense of its acts, and
in view of the manifest possibility of
conforming to the established rules CT
naval warfare, the government of the
United States cannot believe that the
imperial government will longer re-
frain from disavowing the wanton act
of its naval commander in sinking the
Lusitania or from offering reparation
for the American lives lost, SO far as
reparation can be made for a needless
destruction of human life by an lille
gal 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 GER
tain vessels be designated and agreed
upon which shall be free upon the
seas now illegally prescribed. The
very agreement would, by implication,
subject other vessels to illegal attack
and would be curtailment and, there
fore, an abandonment of the principles |
for which this government contends
and which In times of calmer counsels |
every nation would concede as a mat
ter of course.
"DeiiberateIy UnfriendIy."
"The government of the United |
States and the imperial German gov
are contending for the same
great object, have long stood together
In urging the very principles upon
which the government of the United
States now so 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 whichever
quarter violated, without compromise
and at any cost. 1t invites the practi-
cal cooperation of the imperial Ger
man government at this time when
cooperation may accomplish most, and
this common object be most strikingly
and effectively achieved.
"The imperial German government
expresses the hope that this object |
may in some measure be accomplished
even before the present war ends. 1t