South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-12

trap with their eyes open. may color
our sympathy to resemble sympathy
such as we have for suicides. but
that does not justify a plea of inno-
| cence. or effect Justification on the
part OF Germany, which, under every
legitimate construction Of recognized
international law, reconverted that
suicide into wholesale homicide We
are under no obligations to justify
| Germany or any other country in a
submarine blockade. such as the
kaiser is seeking TO maintain, and it
can never become justified under in
ternational law unless we do-recog-
milton of such a pronouncement being
I the one great requisite to its success.
But true. there is also a German
side TO the controversy. We have no
criticism Of her with respect to her
attitude toward Britain. Those two
countries are enemies. but the United
States is in a different category, being
neutral AS between Germany and
Britain, we actually believe Germany
mas the best Of the argument as con-
Germs the sinking OF the Lusitania,
save that Britain was within the in
ternational rules Of warfare and Ger
many was outside OF them. If
Germany can ram her submarine
blockade down Britains throat, well
and good, but she needs to be cautious
when the rights OF the United States
are involved. We quote Berlins ad-
vice TO the American department of
state, as giving her view:
The German government de-
sires to express the deepest sym
pathy for the loss Of American
lives aboard the Lusitania The
responsibility rests with the Brit
ish government, which. through
it's plan for starving the civilian
population of Germany, forced
Germany to resort to retaliatory
measures. In spite of the Ger
man offer to stop submarine war
in case the starvation plan was
given up, the British government
has taken even more stringent
blockade measures. British mer-
chant vessels are being generally
armed with guns and have re-
peatedly tried 10 ram submarines,
so that previous search is impos-
sible. They cannot therefore be
treated as ordinary merchant
vessels.
A recent declaration made in
the British parliament by a par
hamentary secretary in answer to
question by Lord BeresfOrd
stated that practically all British
merchant vessels had been armed
and provided with hand grenades.
Besides II was openly admitted by
the English press that the Lusi-
tania, on previous voyages, had
repeatedly carried large quanti-
ties OF war material. On her
present voyage the LuSitania car
ried $500 cases of ammunition.
while the rest of the cargo con-
sisted chiefly Of cOntraband
If England, after repeated Of
fetal and unofficial German warn
ings, consider herself able to
declare that the boat ran no risk,
she thus lightheartedly assumed
responsibility for human lives on
board a steamer which from the
showing of its armament cargo,
was liable 10 destruction
Diplomatically stated. to be sure.
but overlooking some fine technical
points-which concededly are among
Americas most vital objections. no
tably that the American passengers
were not. as required by international
law, given an "On the spot opportu-
nifty to repent of their folly. and es-
cape.-it merely serves the more
keenly to note the difference between
an excusable German attitude toward
Britain and a justiiable attitude
toward the citizens of a neutral power.
Germany took a greater chance than
did Britain on the Lusitania passen-
gers. She violated international law
and that. with respect 10 the rights of
neutrals. is about the most serious
thing a belligerent can do.
Indications are that there Will be
no war with Germany unless Germany
declares il. which is improbable in
view OF the latest advices. realizing
the strained tension, but there are
equally strong indications that the i'm
perial German government Will be
held to strict accountability. and be
made to understand that we shall in
sst on our rights upon the seas. re
gardless of how il may Inconvenience
her in her warfare. England has been
given TO understand similarly. 1t made
Britain's foreign secretary squirm a
bit but the American demand has
stood and England is guarding care
fully not TO violate it even though she
has never said she wouldn't That is
the main difference between Britain
and Germany
But the time. TO use a little slang.
for showdown. having come.
Pres't Wilson was right in pointing out
20 all citizens who owe allegiance to
the stars and stripes. whether they be
hyphenated citizens OF not how near
allegiance TO any other country. with
which we may be at variance. is 10
being akin TO treason. The north had
its "Copperheads" in civil war times.
Should hostilities have broken out
with Germany the nation needed well
10 be relieved from having to deal
with such a disturbing element. Tn
less too many people got TO rocking
the boat" British and German SYM