Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-23
Sees Great Danger in Attitude
of BeIligerentS Toward the
Commerce of the United
States.
SAYS ADMINISTRATION
MUST BE SUSTAINED
Rights of Country to Be Main
tanned at Any Cost but
Jingoism Should Be Care
fully Avoided,
lsr BOOMING ,oussAt spselAL Lrsase wlssI

MorristOwn, ~ j., Feb. %. ~- The
United States Is threatened with a se-
rious invasion of its rights as nel
tral by the warning nations of Europe,
and In preserving its commerce with
those nations is face 90 face with a
crisis, in the opinion of former Presi-
dent William H. Taft. In the solution
OF the crisis, should it arise, no lingo
spirit must be allowed to prevail, Mr..
Taft advised; neither pride nor mo-
mentary passion should influence our
judgment
And when the president shall act, "
Mr.. Taft declared, I'VE must stand by
him TO the end, In this determine
tion we may be sure that all will join,
no matter what their previous views,
no matter what their European ORIGIN.
All will forget their differences in
loyalty to our COM
mon flag and our common country
Mr.. Tafts reference to the situation
confronting the United states w1s
made at the conclusion OF an address
delivered here today before the Wash
ington Association of New Jersey.
Quoting from reservation in the
treaty of Algeclras. proclaimed ia
1907, and entered into by the United
States and eleven European nations,
including most of those now at war,
MIR, Taft said
Americas Interest.
"Our interest in the present war,
therefore, under the conditions that
exist, should be limited us set forth
In this reservation, to-wlt.
i1Dreserving. and increasing the
commerce Of the United states with
the belligerents: to the protection az
to life, liberty and prosperity of oar
citizens residing or travelling In their
countries and to the aiding by our
friendly offices and efforts In bring
ing those countries to peace"
"Our efforts for peace he eontln-
ued, have been made as complete az
possible, for the president has al
ready rendered his good offices by
way of mediation between the powers
and they have not been accepted.
Face 10 Face With Crisis.
"In preserving the commerce of the
United States with the belligerents,
however, we are face to face with \
crisis w are threatened with Sc
rious invasion of our rights as neu-
trails in trading with the belllgerent
countries. What certainly Is an IN
novation upon previous rules In re-
spect to neutral commerce and con-
traband of war has been initiated by
belligerents on both sides. The plant
ing of mines In the open sea and the
use of submarines to send neutral vos-
sells to the bottom without Inquiry ds
to their neutrality when found In q
so-called war zone of the open sea,
are all of them variation from the
rules of international law governing
the action OF belligerents t0wurd neu-
tral trade.
Duty of Government
"When their violations result IN
the destruction of the lives OF Ameri-
can citizens or American property, Il
grave issue VIII arise TO what the
duty of this government is The re-
sponsibility Of the president and con-
gress in meeting the critical issue thus
presented In maintaining our national
rights and our national honor on the |
one hand with due regard to the aw-
ful consequences to our ninety mill |
lions of people Of engaging In this |
horrible world war on the other, will /
be very great. It involves on their |
part q Judgment so momentous in lts |
that we should earnestly (
bray that the necessity for 1t may be /
iverted.
Praises Administration,
"If, however. the occasion arises, I
We can be confident that those in au-
horty VIII be actuated by the highest I
patriotic motives and by the deepest I
concern for our national welfare We +
must hot allow our pride or mOmen-
ary passion to influence our judg-
nent. We must exercise the deliher-
ltion that the fateful consequences
n the loss of our best blood and
'normous waste Of treasure would
lecessarly impose upon US. We must
IlloN no lingo spirit to prevail We
must abide by tine judgment Of those
n whom we have entrusted the au-
hority, and when the president shall
lct we must stand by him 20 the end
n this determination We may be sure
hat all will join, no matter what their
revious views, no matter what their
European origin. All will forget their
differences In self-sacrificlng loyalty
o our common flag and our common
Ountry- /,
Washingtons Birthday.
This 1S3rd anniversary OF Wash
ngton's birthday IN view Of the pres
mt critical condition in our interna-
ional relations. should bring TO our
minds the third great achievement OF
is presidential term. the maintenance
4 a policy Of neutrality through a
eneral European war. He insisted I
pom 1t as necessary before he be-
anne president; he maintained II {
his official life as presi- ,
ent against mighty odds and unGer
that tried his soul, and IN /
lis farewell address, he restated L /
nd reinforced II as a legacy to the
.merlcan people.
con the second Of April. 1898. he I
sued q proclamation of neutrality. II ,
aust be realized, too. that this procla- !
nation of neutrality was very difficult {
> reconcile with the engagements of
he United States in the treaty of [
rance made during the revolutionary :