The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-07-28
leir acknowledged rights, particular

tuciI dChhOWlSuSeu rlSulS, pHTllCulai-
| ly when they violate the right to life
itself. If u belligerent cannot retaliate
against an enemy without injuring the
lives OF neutrals, as well as their prop
! lerty, humanity, as we'll as justice and
a due regard for the dignity of neutral
powers, should dictate that the prac-
tice be discontinued. If persisted in it
would in such circumstances consti-
tute an objectionable offense against
the sovereignty of the neutral nation
affected. The government Of the Unit
ed States is not unmindful Of the en-
itraordinary conditions created by this
war. of the radical alterations of cir
'cumstanccs and method of attack pro-
duced by the use of instrumentalities
of naval warfare which the nations of
the world cannot have had in view
when the existing rules Of intcrnatiOn-
al law were formulated, and it is ready
to make every reasonable allowance
for these novel and unexpected aspects
OF war at sea; but ii cannot consent to
abatc anay essential or fundamental
| right Of its people because of mere
alteration OF circumstance. The rights
of ncutralS in time of war arc based
upon principle, not upon cXpcdicncy,
and the principles arc immutabic. Ii
is the duty and obligation Of bclligcr-
cnts to find way to adapt the new
circumstance to them.
The events Of the past two months
have clearly indicated that 1t is pos
lsble and practicable to conduct such
submarine operations as have charac-
lterizcd the activity Of the imperial
German navy with the socallcd war
zone in substantial accord with the
accepted practices of regulated war
fare. The whole world has looked
with interest and increasing satiSfac-
ton at the demonstration of that pos
sbility by German naval commanders.
1t is manifcstly possible, therefore, to
lift the whole practice Of submarine
attack above the criticism which ii
has aroused and removed the chief
causes of ofcnSc.
In vicw Of the admission Of illegal
lity made by the imperial German GOV
,crnmcnt 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 German government will lon
ger refrain dSavOwing the wanton act
OF its naval commander in sinking the
l.usitania or from offering rcparation
for the American lives lost, so far as
rcparation can be made for needless
destruction OF human life by an illegal
lact.
The government Of the United States
while not Indifferent to the friendly
spirit in which il is made, cannot ac-
ccpt the suggestion Of the imperial
German government that certain vcS-
sells be designated and agreed upon
which Shall be free on the seas now IL
legally prescribed The very agree
mcnt would by implication, subject
other vessels TO illegal attack and
would be curtailmcnt and therefore
an abandonment Of the principles for
which this government contends and
which in times OF calmcr counscls
every nation would cOnccdc as OF
course.
The government Of tho United States
and tho imperial German government
are cOntcnding for the same great oh
lcct, have long stood together in urS-
ing the very PRINCIPLES, upon which
| the government Of the United StatCS
now so solcmnly insists. They arc
both cOntcnding for the freedom O!
The seas. The government of the
United States will continue TO contend
for that Freedom, from whatever quar-
ter violated without any compromise
and at any cost. 1t invites the prac-
| tical cooperation Of the imperial Ger
imam government at this time when CO.
operation may accomplish most and
| this great common object be most
,strikinsly 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. II
can be understood the government of
the United States feels not only OBJ
| li@cd TO insist upon it whcnsocvcr viO
lated or ignored in the protection OF
; its own citizens but is also deeply in
| tercSted in seeing 1t made practicable
between the bclligcrcnts themselves
and holds itself at any time to act as
the common friend who may be privi-
| legged to suggest a way.
| In the meantime the very value
which this government sets upon tho
long and unbrokcn friendship between
the people and government of the
United States and the people and gov
crnment Of the German nation impelS
| 1t to press very SOlmenly upon the i'm
lpcrial German nation the necessity for
| a ScrupulouS observance OF neutral
rights in this critical matter. Friend
| ship itself prompts it to say to the inn
pcrial government that repetition by
| the commanders Of German naval NcS-
sells of acts in contravcntion OF those
rights must be regarded by the govern
mcnt Of the United States, when they
ut 90 Inlihnl-