The border vidette., 1915-08-07


 mere alteration of circumstance. The rights of neutrals in time of war are based upon principle, not upon expediency, and prin ciples are immutable.
 Ut is the duty and obligation of belligerents to find a way to adapt the new circumstances to them.
 "The events of the past two months have clearly indicated that it is possible, and practic able to conduct such submarine operations as have characteriz- ed the activity of the Imperial German navy within the so call ed war zone in substantial ac- cord with the accepted practices of regulated warfare. The whole world has looked with interest and increasing satisfaction at the demonstration of that poSSi- bility by German naval com manderS. It is manifeStly pos sible, therefore, to lift the whole practice of submarine attack above the criticism which it aroused and remove the chief causes of offenSe.
 In view of the admission of illegality made by the Imperial German government when it pleaded the right of retaliation in defense of it's acts and in view of the manifest possibility of conforming to the eSta bliShed rules of naval warfare, the gov ernment of the United States cannot believe that the Imperial government will longer refrain from disavOwing the wanton act of it's naval commander in sink ing the LuSitania or from offer iag reparation for the American lives lost, so far as reparation can be made for the needless destruction of human life by illegal acts.
 "The government of the Unit ed States, while not indifferent to the friendly spirit in which-it is made, cannot accept the sug- gestion of the Imperial German government that certain vessels be designated and agreed upon which will be free on the seas now illegally prescribed. The very agreement would by impli- cation subject other vessels to curtailment and therefore an abandonment of the principles for which this government con tends, which in times of calmer counsels every nation would concede as of course.
 The government of the Unit ed States and Imperial German government are contending for the same great object and have long stood together in urging the very principles upon which States now so solemnly insists.
 They are both contending for the freedom of the seas. The of the United States will continue to contend for that freedom from whatever quarter it is violated, without compro mise and at any cost. It invites the practical co operation of the German government at this time when co operation may accomplish the most and this great common object can be strikingly and effectively achiev- ed.
 ''The Imperial German gov ernment expresses the hope this object may be in a measure ac- complished even before the pre- sent war ends. It can be. The government of the United States not only feels obliged to insist upon it by whomsoever it has been violated or ignored, in the protection of it's own citizens, but it is also deeply interested in seeing it made practica ble be- tween the beiligerents them selves, and holds itself ready at any time to act as a common friend who may be privileged to suggest a way.
 Tn the meantime the very value which this government sets upon a long and unbroken friendship by the people, of the government of the United States, and the people of the govern ment of the German nation inn pelS it to impress very solemnly upon the Imperial German gov ernment the necessity for scru pulous observance of neutral rights in this critical matter. Friendship itself prompts it to say to the Imperial government