The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1916-03-02


curing favorable reply from the latter gives the 1oo~s
review of the situation and the differences leaong up " INC
present critical point
sharp conflict of opinion has arisen between President
Wilson and considerable section of the Democratic parry
the question whether the government shall MAINTAIN 'e
rights Of American citizens at the RISK OF war wit" e
many, shall responsibility for the
those rghtsshall expressly abrldge helh-n oue "
avoid that risk This the climax OF long tram OF events
extending backward for more than year
On December 1914 Admiral Won Trptz head of the Ger
navy threatened submarine commerce IN ordel
to starve England and terroze the civilian popuaon
ain had proclaimed of hoses IN the North Sea- pu
had left open fair way for neutral ships even to German
ports In January 1915 Germany began treating 1000 as con
traband In the month the German government tooB
control of the food supply of the empire and thereupon BRITAIN
began treating all food contraband.
Regarding this attempt to starve Germany and con
siderng the of hostes unlawful the Kalsers gov
eminent February 1915 proclaimed war zone embrac
ing all British waters and warned neutral vessels that after
February Is they would this at their risk
The United States February 10 informed Germany that
American vessels and citizens had the right to traverse the
in safety that Germany would be held to strict account
ability for violation of this right and that the United States
would take any steps necessary to safeguard it.
On March % the first American lives taken by Ger
submarine when the Faba sunk That ship tried to
escape which Germany construed fight ustfyng desruc
ton
On May T. 1915, German submarine sank the Lustania
killing 100 Americans among her passengers The Lusitania
unarmed and made attempt to flee.
On May 49, 1915, the United States sent note to Germany
begerent merchant ships and warning Germany that would
omit no word or act to maintain this right
Germany replied May 49, defending the sinking of the
Lustana the ground that the ship armed and carried
contraband
The United States replied June insisting that the lives
of noncombatants could not lawfully be put in jeopardy
less ship resisted attempted flight and that this nation
must stand that principle This note denied that the Lus
tania armed
Rather than sign this note Secretary of State Bryan
signed He contended the United States should
of Inv nfor
commission and that meanwhile Americans should be warned
not to travel begerent ships on ships carrying contra
band.
Germany replied July reairming the right to sink
merchant ships reprsa for alleged violation of information
al law by the allies but offering immunity from attack to
ships under the American specially marked and
carrying contraband.
The United States replied July 81 rejecting this prop
oson because accept would be admit Germany right
set aside the American contention based the
principles of international law This note declared that any
violation OF American rights defined by the United States
would be regarded unfriendly act
While this correspondence passing Germany continued
TO SINK or attack merchant ships carrying Americans and thus
to XII Americans The Armenian sunk June 28 the
Orda attacked July and the Arabic was sunk on
August 49,
This last event almost brought relations to the breaking
pon but crisis averted by from Germany
on September that liners would be sunk without warn
nor without safety noncombaans provided the liners
d not resist or try escape The concession was hailed as
granting the American contention and was confirmed bv
herman note October explaining that before the Arsb;
sunk orders had been given sink unresstn liners
o mat the submarine commander believed the Arabic was
ABOUT TO ram his vessel But four days after Germany first
gave this assurance September the Hesperan was sunk
German promise did not apply freight vessels and Ger
many continued to withhold dsavowal of the Lustana mas
acre or admission that it was unlawful
The United States still endeavorng to Obtain this d
MISSION ana acknowledgment that the entire principle laid
Town by this government binding when on February 10
feany and Austria notice that after February % thew
you'd treat as warshps all begerent merchant vessels which
we're armed Tor defense The United States asked
70 agree tat no merchant ships should be armed but
hey refused and the president then stood on the rue If in
law that merchant ships may be armed for defense
nout FORGETTING their rights such He has asked
u tnat the promise of immunity from attack for
ners snail apply to those which armed for defense