The Benson signal., 1915-07-31

It is the duty and obligation OF bel
ligerents to find way to adapt the
new circumstances to them.
The events of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it is
possible and practicable to conduct
such submarine operations as have
characterized the activity of the i'm
perial 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 in
terest and increasing satisfaction at
the demonstration of that possibility
by German naval commanders.
1t is manifestly possible, therefore,
to lift the whole practice of submarine
war above the criticism which it has
aroused and remove the chief causes
of offense.
Germany's Proposal Rejected.
In view of the admission of ille-
gality made by the imperial German
government, when it pleaded the right
of retaliation in defense of its acts,
and in view of the manifest pOssibil-
ity of conforming to the established
rules of naval warfare, the govern
ment of the United States cannot be-
lieve that the imperial German gov
ernment will longer refrain from dis
avowing the wanton act of it's naval
commander in sinking the Lusitania or
from offering reparation Of the Amer
ican lives lost, so far as reparatlon
can be made for a needless destruc-
tion of human life by an illegal act.
The government of the United
States, while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made, can
not accept the suggestion of the i'm
perial German government that GER
tain vessels be designated and agreed
upon which shall be free on the seas
now illegally prescribed. The very
agreement would, by implication, sub
ject other vessels to illegal attack and
would be a curtailment, and therefore
al abandonment of. the principles for
which this government contends, and
hich in times of calmer counsels ev-
cry nation would concede as of course.
The government of the United States
and the imperial German government
are contending for the same great OBJ
ject, have long stood together in urg-
government of the United States now
solemnly insists.
They are both contending for the
freedom of the seas. The government
of the United States will continue to
contend for that freedom, from what
ever quarter violated, without compro-
mise and at any cost.
ScrupuIous Observance Demanded.
1t invites the practical cooperation
of the imperial German government
at this time, when cooperation may
accomplish most and this great COM
mon object be most strikingly and
effectively achieved. The imperial
German government expresses the
hope that this object may be in some
measure accomplished even before
the present war ends. 1t can be.
The government of the United
States not only feels obligated to in
sist upon it, by whomsoever violated
or ignored and in the protection of it's
own citizens, but is also deeply in
terested in seeing it made practicable
between the belligerants themselves,
and holds itself ready at any time to
act as the common friend who may
be privileged to suggest a way.
In, the meantime the very value
which this government sets upon the
long and unbroken friendship between
the people and government of the
United States and the people and gov
ernment of the German nation impels
it to press very solemnly upon the i'm.
perial German government the neces-
sity for a scrupulous observance OF
neutral rights in this critical matter
Friendship itself prompts it to say to
the imperial German government that
repetition by the commanders of Ger
man naval vessels of acts in contra
vention of those rights must be re-
garded by the government of the
United States, when they affect
American citizens, as deliberately un'
friendly. (Signed) LANSING.