The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-07-30

tice be discontinued. II persisted In Il
would in such circumstances constitute
an objectionable offense against the
sovereignty of the neutral nation at
fected.
"The: government OF the United
States is not unmindfu1 of the extra
ordinary conditions created by this
war or of the radical alterations Of cir
cumstances and method Of attack pro-
duced by the use of instrumentalitfes
of naval warfare which the nations OF
the world cannot have had in view
when the existing rules of interna-
tional law were formulated and 1t Is
ready to make every reasonable allow
ance for these novel and unexpected
aspects of war at sea; but it cannot
consent to abate any essential or fun
damental right OF its people because of
a mere alteration of circumstance. The
rights of neutrals In time OF war are
based upon principle, not upon expe-
diency, and the principles are immuta-
BILE. It is the duty and obligation OF
belligerents to find a way to adapt the
new circumstances to them.
Reparation For Iusitania.
1.-THE events Of the past two months
have clearly indicated that it is posi-
BILE and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have charac-
terized the activity Of the imperial
German navy within the so-called wal
zone in substantial accord with the &C.
cepted practices Of regulated warfare.
The whole world has looked with in
terest and increasing satisfaction at
the demonstration Of that possibility
by German naval commanders. It is
manifestly possible, therefore, to lift
the whole practice of submarine at
tack above the criticism which it has
aroused and remove the chief cause of
offense.
elm view of the admission Of illegal
ity made by the imperial German gov
eminent when it pleaded the right of
retaliation in defense of it's acts, and
in view of the manifest possibility of
conforming to the established rules Ct
naval warfare, the government of the
United States cannot believe that the
imperial government will longer re-
frain from disavowing the wanton act
Of its naval commander in sinking the
Lusitania or from offering reparation
for the American lives lost. SO far as
PREPARATION can be made for a needless
destruction of human life by an ille-
gal act
"The government Of the United
States. while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made,
cannO accept the suggestion Of the
imperial German government that Ger
tain vessels be designated and agreed
upon which shall be free upon the
hseas now Illegally prescribed. The
very agreement would, by implication,
subject other vessels to illegal attack
and would be a curtailment and, there
fore, an abandonment of the principles
for which this government contends
and which in times of calmer counsels
every nation would concede as a mat
ter of course.
Deliberately UnfriendIy."
"The government of the United
States and the imperial German gov
eminent are ~cOntending for the same
great object, have long stood together
In urging the very principles upon
which the government of the United
States now SO solemnly insists. They
are both contending for the freedom
Of the e The government of the
United States will continue to contend
for that freedom, from whichever
quarter violated, without compromise
and at any cost. It invites the practi
cal cooperation Of the imperial Ger
man government at this time when
cooperation may accomplish most, and
this common object be most strikingly
and effectively achieved.
1.-THE imperial German government
expresses the hope that this object
may In some measure be accomplished
even before the present war ends. Il
can be. The government OF the United
States not only feels obliged to insist
Il dponssit, by whomsoever violated OF
ignored; In the protection OF its own
citizens but. Is also deeply interested
In seeing it made practicable between
the be1ligerents themselves, and holds
itself ready at hny time to act as the
common friend who may be privileged
|, to suggest q way.
"In the meantime, the very value
d.which this government sets upon The
!. Eong and unb1oken friendship between
the people and government OF thu
United States and the people and gov
: ernment OF the German nation impell
It to press very solemnly upon the I'm
peria1 German government the neces
sity for q scrupulous observance o
neutral rights IN this critical matter
{ Friendship itself prompts It to say t.
the imperial German government tha
repetition BY the commanders OF Ger
J man naval vessels Of acts in contra
d yention a. those rights must be re
{ garded By the government OF TIL
: United States. when they affect Amer
: lean citizens. 8 deliberately IN
/ lfriendly. LANSING"
Stand BY GovernmenG
Ch1casp--The Tribune n conlmeni
Ing upon tho United States note .
ama1ys aeqasres that tho press m
people must stand by The government
4t $50: Tho reply Of the gover1
1k az tie htest German note -
- Ia M &EA GZA[A 80