The Alaska daily empire., 1915-07-30

animation for a belligerent act of re- taliatiou is per se an act beyond the law, and the defense of an act as re- taiiatory is an admission that it is Illegal
 lnhuman Acts lndefenslsle
 The government of the United States Is, however keenly disap: pointed to find that the imperial German government regards itself as. in largo degree exempt from the ob- llgation to observe these principles even where neutral vessels are con- cernod. by what it believes the pol icy and practice of the government of Great Britain to be in the present war with regard to neutral commerce.. The imperial German government will readily understand that the govern ment of the United States cannot dis cuss the policy of the government of Great Britain with regard to neutral trade except with that government itself. and that it must regard the conduct of other belllgerent govern ments as irrelevant to any discussion with the imperial German govern ment regards as grave and uniusti- liable violations of the rights of American citizens. by German naval commanders.
 Illegal and inhuman acts, however | iustifiable they may be thought to be against an enemy who is believed to have acted in contravenation of law and humanity are manifestly lindefensible when they deprive neu- trais of their acknowledged rights. particularly when they violate the right to life itself IT a belligerent cannot retaliate against an enemy without injuring the lives of neutrals 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 in such circumstances constitute an unpardonable offense against the soy ereignty of the neutral nation effect ed The government of the United States is not unmindful of the extra. ordinary conditions created by this war or of the radical alterations of circumstances and method of attack produced by the use of the instru mentalities of naval warfare which the nations of the world cannot have had in view when the existing rules of international law were formulated and 1t is ready to make every req sonable allowance for these novel and unexpected aspects of war at sea; but it cannot consent to abate 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 belliger- ents to find a way to adapt the new circumstances to them.h
 Humane Conduct Feasible
 The events of the past two months have clearly indicated that it is pos, sible and practicable to conduct such submarine operations as have charac- terized the activity of the imperial German navy within the so-called war zone in substantial accord with i the accepted practices of regulated warfare. The whole world has look ed with interest and increasing sat isfaction at the demonstration of that possibility by German naval com manders It is manifestly possible therefore, to lift the whole practices of submarine attacks above the criti cism which 1t has aroused and re- move the chief causes of offense.
 In view of the admission of nlcg ality made by the imperial govern ment when 1t pleaded the right of retaliation in defense of its acts and in view of the manifest possibility of conforming to the established rules of naval warfare the government oi the United States cannot believe that the imperial government will longer refrain from disavowing the wanton act of its naval commander in sinking the Lusitania or from offering repar ation for the American lives lost. SC far as reparation can be made for a needless destruction of human life by an illegal act.
 German Suggestion Rejected
 The government of the United States, while not indifferent to the friendly spirit in which 1t is made