The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-06-09
RECOGNIZES THE. WAR ZONE
And Declares That Americans
Have No Business There
as Passengers.
COI1f1lSSlOn
t,r A.see,Arre ,rx..,


believes to DE right and am. sure
that he desires, as I do. to ind
peaceful solution Of the problem
which has been created by the action
OF the submarines.
Two Main Points.
Two OF the points on which we
differ. each conscientious in his con-
~Fsrst-As to the suggestion of in
vestigat1on by an international com
mission. and
..Second-As to warning Americans
against travelling on belhgerent yes
sells or with cargoes OF ammunition.
II believe that this action should
frankly state to Germany that we are
willing to apply in this case the pr1n-
cipIes which we are bound by treaty
to apply to disputes between the Uni
ted States and thirty countries with
which we have made treaties prov1d-
ing for Investigation OF all disputes
of every character and nature. These
treaties negotiated under this admin
istration make war practically. tmpos-
7sfble between this country and these
thirty governments representing near
" three-fourths Of all the people OF
the world.
Germany Accepted Principle.
"Among the nations with which We
have these treaties are Grea@ Britain
France and Russia No ucas5eF-EGha+
disputes may arise between us and
these treaty nations we agree that
there shall be no declaration and no
commencement OF hosts1ities until the
matters IN dispute have been lnves-
tfxated by an International commits
sion and years time is allowed for
Investigation and report This plan
was offered to all the nations without
any exception whatever and Germany
was one OF the nations that accepted
the principle, being the twelfth. I
think to accept 80 treaty was actual
" entered into with Germany but I
cannot see that that should stand in
the way when both nations endorsed
the principle. I do not know whether
Germany would accept the offer but
our country should in my judgment
make the offer.
WuuId Relieve Tension
such an offer il accepted would
at once relieve the tension and 81
Ience all the jingoes who are de-
mandinS war. Germany has always
been az friendly nation and a great
many OF our people are OF German
ancestry Why should we not deal
with Germany according to this plan,
to which the nation has pledged It's
support
Inc second QO4nI OIL SA4SS -
as to the course which should be
pursued in regard to Americans trav-
cling on bellgerent ships or Wa
cargoes OF ammunition. Why should
an American citizen be permitted to
involve this country in war by travel
ing on a belitgerent snip when he
knows that the ship will pass
through a danger zone2 The cues
lion Is not whether an American
oh 11r6ar
rfona law to travel on a belllgerent
ship: the question is whether he
ought not, out OF consideration for
his country, If not for his own safe
IL. avoid danger ven avoidance IS
POSSIBLE. It is very one-slded cit
izenship that compels government
TO go to war over citizens right
oblisations to consider his nation
welfare
Taft,s Advice Wise.
ST do not know Just how far the
president can Legally go IN actua1iv
preventing Americans from traVehnS
on beIliSerent ships. but beneve
the government should go as far as 1t
can and that in case OF DOUBT 1t
should give the benefit OF the douot
TO the government. But even II ene
government could not legally pre-
vent citizens from travelling on bel
lieerent ships it could, and IN my
judgment, should earnestly advise
American citizens not to risk them-
selves or the peace OF their country,
and have no doubt that these warn
tngs would be needed
president Taft advised Americans
10 leave Mexico when 1nsurrect1on
broke out there and President Wilson
has repeated the advice This advice.
IN my judgment. was eminendy wise
and.I think the same course should
be followed IN regard to warning
Americans to keep or vessels subject
to attack
II think, too. that American pas
senser ships should be prohibited
from carrying ammunition The lives
of passengers ought not to be en-
dangered by cargoes OF ammunition
Wheeler that danger comes from
possible explosions within OF from
possible attacks from without. Pas
sengers and ammunition should not
travel together. The attempt TO pre-
vent American citizens from incur