Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-12
Defends President Wilson'S
Efforts TO Preserve NeutrULitu

\
| opponent OF war as favorlng peace at
| any price. Peace at any price is an
| cplthet, not a true statement of any
ones position or OF the policy of any
group.
Words Employed by Jingocs.
The words are employed by iingoes
! as an expression of contempt and are
applied unfortunately to all who
have faith I'm the nations ability TO
4 find a peaceful way out of every diff
ficulty so long as both nations want
! peace. The alarmists of the country
have had control Of the metropolitan
press and they have loudly proclaimed
that the prolongation of negotiations
or the suggestion of international in
vestigation would be q sign of weak
ness-and everything Is weakness that
does not contain hint of war. The
lingo sees in the rainbow of promise
only one color-red.
Help secure Peace.
Second: Knowing that the presI.
dent desires peace, II is your duty 20
help him secure it, and how? BY ex-
erting your influence to convince the
German government of this fact and
TO persuade that government to take
no steps that would lead In the direc-
tion of war. My fear has been that
the German government might, de-
spairing of friendly settlement.
break off diplomatic relations and
thus create a condition out of which
war might come without the intention
Of either country / do not ask you
to minimize the earnestness OF the
presidents statement--that would be
unfair both to him and TO Germany.
Lusitania Act Indefensiblc.
The sinking of the Lusitania can
not be defended upon the facts as we
understand them. The killing of in
nocent women and children cannot be
justified. whether the killing Is by
drowning or starving: no nation can
successfully plead the inhumanity Of
her enemies as an excuse for inhu-
manity on her own part. While 1t is
true that cruelty Is apt to beget
cruelty, 1t cannot be said that like
cures like Even in war We are not
absolved from the obligation TO rem
edy evils by the influence Of good eX-
ample. Let your lights SO shine Is
a precept that knows no times nor
seasons as it knows neither latitude
nor longitude.
Controversy With England.
"Third. Do not attempt TO connect
the negotiations which are going on
between the United States and Ger
many with those between the United
States and Great Britain The eases
are different, but even If they were
the same, II would be necessary to
treat with each nation separately
My personal preference has been TO
repeat our insistence that the allies
shall not Interfere with our COM
merce with neutral countries. but
the difference on this point was
matter of judgment and not a mat
ter of principle. In the note to Great
Britain, dated March 80 this gov
ernment said
In view of these assurances
formally given to this government,
1t is confidently expected that the
extensive powers conferred by the
order-in-council on the executive Of
tcers of the crown will be restricted
by orders issued by the government
directing the exercise of their discre-
tionary powers in such a manner as
to modify in practical application
those provisions of the order-in-
ell which, If strictly enforced, would
violate neutrality rights and inter-
rupt legitimate trade. Relying on
the faithful performance Of these
voluntary assurances by his majes-
tvs government, the United States
takes it for granted that the ap-
proaeh of American merchantmen to
neutral ports situated upon the long
line of coast affected by the order-in-
council Will not be interfered with
when it is known that they do not
carry goods which are contraband Of
war or goods destined to or proceed
ing from ports within the belligerent
territory affected
No business of GerInany's.
There is no doubt that our gov
ernment will insist upon this posi-
tion: that is an 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 it, but because was
anxious to make it as easy as possi-
Bile for Germany to accept the de-
mands of the United States and
cease to employ submarines against
There is no reason
why any German-Americans should
doubt the presidents intentions in
this matter. | am sure that every one
VIII, on reflection. recognize that our
duty to prevent loss of life is more
urgent than our duty TO prevent in
reference with trade--loss of trade
can be compensated for with money.
but no settlement that the United
States and Germany may reach can
call back to life those who went down
with the Lusitana--and war would
be the most expensive Of all settle
ments because it would enormously
add to the number OF the dead.
Fourth / hope that Germany
viii acquiesce in the demands that I
have been made. and | hope that she /
viii aoquiesce in them without con-
lltions. She can trust the United
States TO deal justly with her on the !
of any changes that she
may propose in the international
'ules that govern the taking of prizes
The more generously she acts in this
natter the greater will be the glory /
which she Will derive from 1t. She |
las raised a question Which is now
receiving serious consideration, name 4
", whether the introduction of the
submarine neeessitates any change in |
he rules governing the capture Of
prizes
The position seemingly taken by I
Germany, namely, that she is entitled I,
o drown non -combatants because
hey ride with contraband, is untena- !
Die position; the most that she could |
INSIST upon is that. in view of the in |
reduction of this new weapon OF war /
ARE. new rules should he adopted
'ine justified such change in the
separating passengers from objection |
ible cargo. IL the use of the subma- |
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