Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-29

illegal and inhuman acts, however
Justifiabie they may be thought to be
against an enemy VINO 10 believed to
have acted in contravention of law
and humanity, are manifestIy indie
fensiole when they deprive neutraIs of
their acknowledged rights, particular
~ when they violate the right to life
Itself. If a beIligerent cannot retaliate
against an enemy without inurinq the
lives of neutraIs, as we'll as their prop
erfy, humanity, as we'll as Justice ard
due regard fer the dignity Of neutral
powers, should dictate that the prac-
tice be discontinued. II persisted in Il
would In such circumstances consti-
tute an objectionable offense against
the, sovereignty of the neutral nation
affected.
Recognizes Changed Conditions.
The government of the United
States IS not unmindful of the ex-
traordinary conditions created by this
war or of the radical alterations of
circumstances and method of attack
produced by the use of Instrumental
ties of naval warfare which the ma
tons of the world cannot have had in
view when the existing rules of inter
national law were formulated and il
Is ready to make every reasonable al
Iowance for these novel and unexpect-
ed aspects of war at sea; but it can
not consent to abate any essential or
fundamental right of its people be-
cause of mere alteration of circum-
stances. The rights of neutrals in
time Of war are based upon principle,
not upon expediency, and the prin-
c1ples are immutable. 1t is the duty
and obligation Of belligerents to find
way to adapt the new circumstances
to them.
The events Of the past two months
have clearly indicated that 1t is pos
sible and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have char
acterized the activity of the imperial
German navy within the so-called war
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. 1t is
manifestly possible, therefore, to lift
the whole practice of submarine at.
tack above the criticism which 1t has
aroused and remove the chief causes
OF offense.
n ia nf he -
lily made by the imperial German gov
eminent when It 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 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
reparation can be made for a needless
destruction Of human life by an Illegal
act
Cannot Accept Suggestion.
THE government of the United
States, while not Indifferent to the
friendly spirit in which it is made,
cannot accept the suggestion of the
imperial 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
an abandonment of the principles for
which this government contends and
which in times of calmer counsels
every nation would concede as of
course.
1.-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 soIemnIy 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 whatever quar-
ter violated, without compromise and
at any cost. 1t invites the practIca!
cooperation of the imperial German
government az this time when COOP
Grafton may accomplish most and this
great common object be most striking
ly and effectively achieved.
Object Can Be Accomplished.
1.-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 obliged to insist
upon it, by Whomsoever violated or
ignored, in the protection of it's own
citizens, but is also deeply interested
in seeing it made practicable between
the belligerents themselves, and holds
itself ready at any time to act as the
common friend who may be privileged
to suggest a way.
ain the meantime the very value
which this government sets upon the
long and unbroken frier dship between
the people and government Of the
United States and the people and gov
eminent of the German nation impeIs
it to press very solemnIy upon the i'm
perial German government the neces-
sity for a scrupuIous 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-
qarded by the government of the
United States, when they affect Amer.
lean citizens, as deliberately IN
friendly. LANSING"
di+ion and would not come under the