Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-07-30

nndaMsntal right OF its people
ecause Of a mere alteration of
circumstance.
The rights of neutrals in time
# war are based upon principle,
lot upon expediency, and the
principles are immutable. 1t isl
he duty and obligation of bellig-I
.rents to find way to adapt the
1ew circumstances to them.
The events of the past two
months have clearly indicated
that it is possible and practicable
to conduct such submarine oper-I
ations as have characterized the
activity of the imperial German
navy within the so-called war
zone in substantial accord with
the accepted practices of regu-
lated warfare. The whole world
has looked with interest and in
creasing satisfaction at the DEM
onstration of that possibility by
German naval commanders. It
is manifestly possible therefore
to lift the whole practice of sub.
marine attack above the criticism
which it has aroused and remove
the chief causes of offenses.
ExcEPTs LUsITANIA PREPARATION
In view of the admission Of
illegally made by the imperia'
German government when il
pleaded the right of retaliation
IN defense of its acts, and il
view of the manifest possibilit,
of conforming to the established
rules of naval warfare, the gov
ernment of the United State'
cannot believe that the imperia
government will longer refrain
from disavowing the wanton &C
of its naval commander in sink
ing the Lusitania or from offer
ling reparation for the American
lives lost, so far as reparatior
can be made for a needless de
struction of human life by il
legal act.
! The government of the Unitet
| States, while not Indifferent t.
| the friendly spirit in which it i
made, cannot accept the sugges
| ton of the imperial German
government that certain vessel
! be designated and agreed upol
which shall be free Or the sea-
now illegally prescribed. Thu
VERY agreement would by impli
cation subject other vessels t.
illegal attack and would be {;
curtailment and therefore al
aba ndonment Of the primo iple!
for which this government con
tends and which in times of cal
mer counsels every nation would
concede as of course.
| SEAS CAN BE MADE FREE
| The government of the United
Estates and the i'm perial German
government are contending fol
the same great object. have lone
stood together in urging the
very principles, upon which tht
government of the United State.
now so solemnly insists. They
are both contending for the tree
dom of the seas. The govern
mint OF Tie United States will
continue to contend for thai
freedom, from whatever quarter
violated, without compromise
and at any cost. 1t invites the
practical cooperation of the i'm,
perial German government al
this time, when cooperation may
accomplish most and this great
common object be most striking.
ly and effectively achieved.
The imperial German govern.
ment expresses the hope that
this object may be in some meas
ure accomplished even before the
present war ends. 1t can be.
The government of United States
not only feels obliged to insist
upon it, by whomsoever violated
or ignored, in the protection of
its own citizens, but is also deep
ly interested in seeing it made
practicable between the belliger.
ents themselves, and holds itself
ready at any time to act as the
common friend who may be priv
ileged to suggest a way.
WARNING AGAINST ATTACK
In the meantime. the very
value which this government
sets upon the long and unbroken
friendship between the people
aud government of the United
States and the people and gov
ernment of the German nation
impels it to press very solemnly
upon the imperial German gov.
eminent the necessity for a scru-