New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-30
THE BELGIAN DEPORTATIONS
Dawson Discusses Their nadmsibiy Under
International Law Duty They Place Upon Neuhas

than increasing the efficiency of the German
invading forces by requiring enforced LABOR
from the subjugated people In this, now
ever they disregard the fact that established
international law in regard TO the precise
question here involved does not contemplate
a substitution of equivalents 1t requires
that the exacted assistance shall be, phi
marily, Of permitted nature Ct excludes,
for example, giving information as to their
own forces, guiding, etc., and, secondly
shall tend TO increase the efficiency on the
spot of the invading forces. 1t does not con-
template an indirect increase of general eff
iency, nor does ii contemplate the rendering
of aid other than to those then locally pres
ent rs invaders and at the locality of inva-
sion The application of this test will solve
all such questions, howsoeyer they may be
sought to be obscured by argument or posi-
bly, even by subterfuge.
Ii will be observed that little has been said
up to this point in relation to humanity"
Yet one rule of international law, to the max
ing of which in its present established form
Germany was a party, does land in respect
to this very matter specifically take human
ity into consideration. 1t was acknowledged
that the question of dealing with the pacific
portion Of the population remaining in q
conquered territory was one difficult Of solu-
ton, in so far as the impossibility Of laying
down rules in detail to govern all possible
cases was present Therefore, the Hague
Conference, having laid down certain general
and simple propositions concerning the mat
ter, added general clause:
Until a more complete code OF the laws
Of war has been issued, the high contracting
parties deem it expedient to declare that, IN
cases not included in the regulations adopted
bv them, the inhabitants and the bell.gerents
remain under the protection and the rule OF
the principles of the law of nations, as they
result from the ussges established among
civilized peoples, from the laws Of humanity
and the dictates of the public conscience"
II we are to inquire how Germany, party
to the convention, reconciles the hardshlps
which she is imposing on pacific popuia-
ton with the underlying principle acquiesced
in by her and set forth in the foregoing, but
one answer seems possible. In the presence
of the opportunity to gain some advantage
she is not willing to hold herself bound by
any rule, whether she has subscribed TO II or
not Her offence is one against principles
which have been recognized and embodied IN
the written international law whlch apples
to the very subject. 1t would seem that all
civilized nations, as well as those engaged
against Germany IN the present CONNECT, as
also those which have stood apart therefrom,
are entitled to use any available measures
which will bring about an adherence on her
part to the stipulations which she made
As to every neutral nation which was a
rarty to the convention she has violated, it
owes the specific duty not merely to protest
but also to take action. International law
is worthless if in time Of war neutral ma
tions do not enforce it. IL were the part OF
ignorant children TO say that after this war.
or after any other war, international Law
must be rewritten. No necessity therefor
exists. The law is there. II can be only
from the ignorance, the weakness or the su
pineness of those nations whose business it
is TO enforce il if it be not enforced and II
il be permitted to be destroyed.
CHARLES STEWART DAWSON.
New York, Nov q, 1916