New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-09
Peace Based on Compromise
a Menace to All the World
international Law Must Be INDICATED, Argues OXFORD
Professor-Amercan Mediation Would Strike
at the Interests of Humanity
By ARTHUR S. DRAPER.

should reCstablish for all time those
great principles OF international law
which have been challenged in this war
by the action Of the Central Powers.
"First-It must be settled for all
time that the general principles OF the
common law OF nations are inyio!aole
and treaties must be observed. Never
again must a neutral state be invaded
by a belligerent against its will Ger
many contends that the necessities OF
state Justify departures from law or
treaty. II that contention prevails then
the whole basis on which the structure
of international law has been erected
il gone.
"Second-Restriction on warfare es-
tablished by international law In tho
interests Of non-combatants and hu-
manity must be insisted upon. II must
be settled for all time that never again
shall there be a crime similar TO the
sinking Of the Lusitania, nor must any
belligerent have recourse to air raids on
an enemy country Of such kind as
these Zeppelin raids. 1t is idle to say
these raids have any military object
Look at the results. The facts are con-
elusive. II raids such as these are to
be permissible, then In future wars
every belligerent nation will send out
feet Of airships to harry the civilian
population. That cannot be allowed.
Again, tho treatment Of the territory
occupied by Germany must be pro-
nounced contrary to law. Civilization
cannot tolerate q return TO the cruel
ties and devastation inflicted In the
seventesnth century.
"Third-It must be established that
small nations have the same rights As
great nations. Small states cannot have
the same influence in politics ss big
states, but they must have tho same
right In law. Arc not Belgium and Hol-
land TO have the Same rights because
they stand in the way Of Germany's
expansion to the sea? Are not tho
Balkan States to have the same rights
because they stand in the way OF Ger
many's expansion to the east!
"In my Judgment IL would be fatal to
international law IL these points land
there are others) were left unsettled
by an inconclusive peace.
"The United States have been among
the foremost champions of information
al law. They appreciate the issues In
volved. do not believe they will lend
themselves to q movement to insist on
peace until these grave principles for
which tho Allies are fighting are finally
settled In the interests Of international
law.
at Is said to be in tho interests Of
humanity that this war should stop,
but those interests were not considered
by those who ordered the Lusitania to
be torpedoed or by those who still order
Zeppelins to raid US at random. The
true interests Of humanity arc to re-
establish reign Of international law. 1t
is better to suffer more now and gain
that object than end the war by =
peace which would leave the precedent
of Germany's conduct In this war open
to future repetition.
"The Central Powers have shown not
the slightest inclination to admit these
principles; to repair the wrongs they
have done. They still hold Belgium;
their newspapers are clamoring for
moro frightfulness In warfare. 1t Is
premature to talk Of peace until they
give way on these points, or until the
Allies can force them to yield. There
must be real securities obtained from
Germany against such conduct in the
future, and there must be compensation
for those who have suffered from such
conduct. That is the only kind Of peace
that can endure for the good Of the law
of nations"