Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-24

neutral vessels are concerned, beyond wht 1t believes the policy and prac- tice of the government of Great Brt- tain to be in the present war with regard to neutral commerce. The fm- perial German government win readily understand that the government of the United States cannot discuss the policy of the government of Great Britain with regard to neutral trade except with that government itself and that 1t must regard the conduct of other belifgerent governments as tr- relevant to any discussion with the imperial German government of what this government regards as grave and unjustiflab1e violations of the rights of American citizens by German na- val commanders. Illegal and inhuman acts, however justfnable they may be thought to be against an enemy who | is believed to have acted in contra vention of law and humanity, are mantfestIy indefensible when they de- pr1ve neutrals of their acknowledged rights, particularly when they violate the right to life itself. If a beIliger- ent cannot retahate against an enemy without injuring the lives of nentrals, as well as their property, humanity,
 as well as Justice and a due regard | for the dignity of neutral powers, should dictate that the practice be discontinued. If persisted in it would | SQCn C1TCu0QSIdnceS COQBL1LuL5 an l unpardopable offonse against the sov- ereignty of the neutral nation affected. | The government of the United States | is not unmindful of the extraordinary conditions created by this war or of the radical alterations of circum- stance and method of attack produced i by the use Of instumenta1ities of naval warfare which the nations of the world cannot have had in view when the ex- isting rules of international law were l formulated and it Is ready to make every reasonable allowance for these novel and unexpected aspects of war at sea; but it cannot consent to abate l any essential or fundamental right of it's people because of a mere alteration | of circumstance. The rights of neu- | trals in time of war are based upon principle, not upon .expediency and the | principles are immutable. It is the duty and obligation of bel1igerents to find way to adapt the new circurn-
 stances to them.
 Submarine Operations.
 The events of the past two months
 have clearly indicated that 1t 1t is possible and practicable to conduct such submarine operations as have perfal German navy within the so- called war zone in substantial accord l with the accepted practices of regu- lated warfare. The whole world has l looked with interest and increasing satisfaction at the demonstration of that possibility by German naval com n1anders. It is manifestly, possible, therefore, to lift the whole practice of submarine attack above the criticism | which it has aroused and remove the I chief causes of offense.
 | Sinking of Lusitania Was Wanton | In view of the admission Of fIegaIity
 made by the imperial government | Nryha y11a dad fha rfy nf fo1 io =
 tion in defence of it's acts and in view of the manifest possibility of conform l ing to the established rules of naval
 warfare, the government of the Uni- ted States cannot believe that the inn
 perfal government will longer refrain from disavowing the wanton act of it's
 naval commander in sinking the Lusf-
 tania rfrom offering reparation foI the American lives lost. so far as re-
 paration can be made for a needless
 destruction of human life by an H.
 legal act.
 No Designation of Certain Vessels
 The government of the United States
 while not indifferent to the friendly
 spirit in which it is made, cannot &C.,
 cept the suggestion of the imperial
 German government that certain ves- sels be designated and agreed upor
 which shall be free on the seas now
 illegally prescribed. The very agree
 ment would, by implication subject other vessels to illegal attack and would be a curtailment and therefore an abandonment O fthe principles fol
 which this government contends an6 which in times of calmer counsels ev- cry nation would concede as of course , Both Contending for Same Principle
 The government of the United State. } and the imperial German government are contending for the same great ob ject, have long stood together in urg. } ing the very principles upon which thu government of the United States nov so solemnly insists. They are botl contending for the freedom of thu seas. The, government of the United States will continue to contend fo [ that freedom, from whatever Quarte violated, without compromise and a 5 any cost, It invites the practical CO
 ernment at this tSIne when co-opera ton may accomplish most and thi
 great common object be most striking ly and effectively achieved.
 | Insists Upon Protection of Amerieal Citizens.
 : The imperial German governmen 3 expresses the hope that this objec 3 may be in some measure accomplishe.
 even before the present war ends.
 can be. The government of the Uni
 ted States not only feels obliged t
 insist upon it by whomsoever violate
 or ignored in the protection of it
 own citizens but is also deeply inter
 ested in seeing it made practicable be tween the belligerents themselves an
 holds itself ready at any time to ac
 as the common friend who may b
 privileged to suggest a way.
 Observance of Neutral Rights. In the meantime the very val1 which thos government sets upon tn !, long and unbroken friendship betwee
 the people and government of tn United States and the people and gov
 ernment of the German nation i'm
 pels it to press very solemnly upon tn
 Imperial German government the ne