New-York tribune., 1916-06-04
Put Their Property on
Par with Human Lives,
He Says,
FATTY DEGENERACY
THREATENS u. ). y
MANY Citizens Blind to Reason
of Stronger Stand Against
Germany than England.

Lansing before the jefferson County
Bar Association here tonight attacked
critics OF the Administration foreign
policy who would have it do more than
has been done in negotiations arising
from the war. and replied TO those who
complain the United States has been
more vigorous in It's dealings with Ser
many than with Great Britain.
"The violation Of the natural right
Of life is a much more serious offence
against an. individual and against his
nation" said Secretary Lansing. "than
( the violation Of the legal right Of
property. Can you doubt for moment
which one gives this government the
greatest concern ~
That there was an influence in Amer
ica. and even in Congress, which put
right Of property and right of life on
a par. Secretary Lansing declared,
showed that the great heart Of the
/ Repubic is threatened with fatty de-
generscy through those who have lost
their patriotic vigOr; that many Amerl-
cans have become lovers Of ease rather
than lovers Of national honor"
Mr.. Lansing read his address He
said he felt compelled to do so that he
might not be misunderstood. The priH-
/ cipsl part Of his address follows:
( Tn a nutshell, the situation Of our
relations with Great Britain and Ger
many. the two powers with which we
have had our principal controversies,
is this:
Germany, having developed the sub
marine as sn offensive engine Of de-
strucuon, asserts that she cannot, on
account of the resulting conditions,
conform to the established rules of
naval warfare; and we should not,
therefore. insist on strict compliance.
Great Britain has no sympathy with
the German point Of view and de-
mands that the submarines observe the
rules Of visit and search without eX-
ception.
'On the other hand, Great Britain
declares that, on account OF the new
conditions resulting from submarine
activity and the use Of mines and from
the geographical position Of Germany,
she cannot conform 10 the established
rules of blockade and contraband. and
we should not, therefore, hold her to
strict compliance with those rules. Ger
many insists, nevertheless, that Great
Britain be made TO follow the existing
law.
This has been the position Of the
United States from the beginning OF
! the war.
,4Riehts violated by the belligerents
rseS- differ in importance and therefore
REQUIRE different treatment. Thus the
violation OF the natural right TO life
is q much more serious offence against
an individual and against his nation
than he violation Of the legal right OF
property.
Life and Property.
"a government which places life and
property on an equality would be gen
orally condemned and justly con-
demned This seems TO me an aviom,
and yet. ! regret TO say, there are some
Americans who do not recognize TINS
difference. How many take this view
il is impossible to say, but the number
is large, judging by the letters ana
/ kilograms received in Washington. In
deed, it is held by some who sit IN the
halls Of Congress.
This mental attitude makes one
wonder if the sensibilities Of the
I American people have become so blunt
/ ed by materialism that they think as
[ much of the loss of their property as
Z they do of the loss of the lives of their
! fellow countrymen.
with the knowledge that a number
/ Of citizens prefer 70 have their ma
/ terial interests protected even TO the
/ extent of not insisting on our rights,
/ the conduct of our foreign relations IS
made most difficult. How extensive
/ this influence is no one can say with
/ certainty. That it exists at all is bad
/ enough. for il shows that we do not all
think true. that the great heart of the
/ Republic is threatened with fatty de-
/ generacy through those who have lost
/ their patriotic vigor, that many Ameri-
/ cans have become lovers of ease rather
| than lovers of national honor.
LET me add just a word. When the
/ foreign policies Of the government are
criticized by honest critics. mean by
: honest critics those who are not in
/ huenced solely by political considera-
/ tions or personal ambitions often
wonder what the critics would do II
! they had the responsibility.
"Those who are prone TO blame the
/ government because 1t does not de-
mand and threaten ought TO consider
very seriously what IL would mean to
the nation if their wishes were carried
| out
Same Arguments Used.
Both governments have adopted the
| same arguments. based primarily on
military necessity, and offer the same
excuses for their Illegal acts, but
I neither will admit that the other IS
in any way justified for It's conduct.
tp do