Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-17
BRYAN ASKS GERMAN AMERICANS TO
BELIEVE WILSON TRULY NEUTRAL AND
USE THEIR INFL UENCE FOR PEACE

ara different, but even IL they were
the same, 1t would be necessary to
treat with each nation separately. My
personal preference has been to re-
peat our insistence that the allies shall
not interfere with our commerce with
neutral countries, but the difference
on this point was n matter of judg-
ment and not matter of principle. In
the note to Great Britain dated March
30 this government said In view of
these assurances formally given to this
government, II is confidently expected
that the extensive powers conferred by
the order in council on the executive
officers of the Crown will be restricted
by ORDERS issued by he government
directing the exercise of their dis
IcretionarY powers In such n manner
as to modify In practical application
those provisions of the order in council
which, If strictly enforced, would vio-
late neutral rights and interrupt
legitimate trade. Relying on the faith
full performance of these voluntary as
surances by His Majestys government,
the United states takes it for granted
that the approach of American mer-
chantmen to neutral ports situated
upon the long line of coast affected
by the order in council will not be in
terfered with when 1T is known that
they do not carry goods which are
contraband of war or goods destined
to or proceeding from ports within
the belligerent territory affected
WAR is COSTLY.
There is no doubt that our government
will insist upon this position; that is IN
important thing. the exact date of the note
is not material. My reason for desiring
to have the matter presented to Great
Britain at once was not that Germany
had any right to ask 1t, but because |
was anxious To make it as easy as pos
sible for Germany to accept the demands
Of the United States and cease to employ
submarines against merchantmen. There
is no reason why any German Amercans
should doubt the Presidents intentions
in this matter | am sure that every
one, upon reflection, recognizes that our
duty to prevent loss of life is more
urgent than our duty To prevent inter-
ference with trade---oss of trade can be
compensated for with money, but no set
Element that the United States and Ger
many may reach. can call back to life
those who went down with the Lusitania-
and war would be the most expensive
of all settlements because 1t would
enormously add to the number of the
dead
GERMANY CAN TRUST l.. 5.
'Fourth-I hope that Germany will
acquiesce in the demands that have been
made, and | hope that she will acquiesce
in them without conditions. She can
trust the United States to deal Justly
with her in the consideration of any
changes that she may propose in the in
ternational rules that govern the taking
of prizes. The more generously she acts
in this matter the greater will be the
glory which she will derive from it. She
has raised a question which is now re-
ceiving serious consideration, namely,
whether the introduction of the sub
marine necessitates any change in the
rules governing the capture of prizes.
The position seemingly taken by Ger
many. namely. that she is entitled to
drown non-combatants because they ride
with contraband, is an untenable posi-
ton; the most that she could insist upon
is that, in View of the introduction of
this new weapon of warfare. new rules
should he adopted-separating passengers
from Objectionable cargo. If the use of
the submarine justities such a change in
the law of blockade as will permit the
Gordon to be Withdrawn far enough from
the shore to avoid the danger of sub
marine attack, may it not be found pos
sible to secure an international agree
ment by which passengers will be eX-
cluded from ships carrying contraband. or
at least from those carrying ammuni-
ton? 1t would require but a slight
change in the shipping laws to make
this separation. and belligerent nations
might be restrained from unnecessarily
increasing the contraband list II they
were compelled to carry contraband on
transports as they now carry troops.
Personally. | would like to see the use Of
subma rines abandoned entirely, just as
] would like to see an abandonment OF
the use of aeroplanes and Zeppeins for
the carrying of explosives, but I am not
sangune enough to believe that any ef-
fective instrument Of warfare will be
abandoned as long as war continues. The
very arguments which the advocates ot
peace advance against the submarine. the
aeroplane and the Zeppelin are advanced
before them by those who co1duct war
The more fatal a weapon is. the more IT
Is in demand, and 1t is not an unusual
thins to see a new instrument of de-
structlon denounced as inhuman by those
against whom it is employed, only to be
employed later by those who, only a lit
tie while before, denounced it,
CITIZENS BY CHOICE.
THE above suggestions are respectfully
submitted to those of German birth or
descent and they are submitted In the
same spirit to naturalized citizens from
other countries To the naturalized clti-
zen this is the land of adoption, but in
one sense II may be nearer to him than
1t Is to us who are native born, for those
who come here are citizens by voluntary
choice, while we are here by accident of
birth. They may be said to have paid a
higher compliment to the United States
than we who first saw the light under
the Stars and Stripes, But more than
that, 1t Is the land of their children and
their children's children, no matter for
what reason they crossed the ocean.
They not only share with us the shaping
of our nations destiny, but their de-
scendants have part with ours in all
the blessings which the present genera
ton can, by wise and patriotic action, be-
queath to Che generations that are to
follow"
Mr.. Bryan said that tomorrow he
might have some announcement to make