Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-15
This Nation Entitled to
Speak, Without Asking
and Without OGense,
as Mutual Friend.
Try Associated Press !

ST LOUIS December 1.-THE right
Of Il neutral like the United states,
which has suffered from the effects OF
the European war. TO initiate a move
mcnt for peace was asserted here to-
night before tn" League to Enforce
Peace by senator stone" chairman OF
TIL" Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittcc.
since the war. almost from tho be-
ginning. has resulted in continuing
"tfcn*iv" attacks on the rights and
dignity of this sovereignty and in in
hi";ing incalculabic injury to our ma
ii"nal int"r"sts-all of which we have
horne with patience because Of our
friendship for tho nations involved"
said Senator stone. 1T seems to me
that after enduring those attacks and
suffering th"s" loss for nearly TWO
and half years. Will no end Yet i'm
sight We have Fight. without regard
to amy question "i sympathy or
humanity. but solely on our own ac-
count aud L" safeguard our own in
;er.Sts, to approach the ccmbatants as
mutual friend and open negotiations
with view to the r.-"Stablishmcnt
of normal international cur.'itions.
WOULD SPEAK As FRIEND
III
our relations To the combat ar.
such, ana our interests are SO my olvcu.
that think We have II right to sprak-
II right SO clear as to cntitlc us To
speak without asking and without lust
oHehsc. We would not speak Impertl-
hently as Intermediates but as u friend
VINO suffered SrievuuSly and innocentIv
from tn. ruthless: aces of war
Inc Senator declared n. wished IL
distinctly unurrstouu that he SPOKE or,
MS own personal rrSpunsibiit,y. III,
s1id hc wouiu not discuss the wisdom
or uhWisaoih vi an approach uf the
oelilLrrchts win peace proposals, hut
mercy Ui "thc prUpricIy OF The right
ana pointed GU. That distinguished men
IN thIs country anu II the warrlnr
countries have warned hut such :,
movement would not only be tutie, but
offensive.
Il ann not disposed" he added. 10
accept without questioning. either the
accuracy o. these statements or the
sounnucss of the reasons on which they
a" piedlcateu Two families wl,h
ieua between them might, SO long as
'hey keep the peace aad observed the
i'w. resent any effort OF an outsider
TO haru"nize them; bul If they should
nrcak forth into open war. so a. IN
disturb the general peace and visit
universal harm upon the whole neirh-
poEhood. the aw-abidns members of
.ne community would have a right IN
call halt without being guilty of
impertinencc. Why should not the
same rule apply. morally and legally.
20 the family of nations"
1. :. HAS SUFFERED FROM
GROSSLY OFFENSIVE ACTS
The United States. the Senator said.
mas suffered from acts committed
which have been grossly offensive 4,
our national pride and hurtful beyond
estimate to our national interests"
tie cited censorship of the mails ships
seized or sunk on the high seas, peace
lhl commerce with neutrals intcrruptcd
or iHterdictcd and American citizens
men. women and children guilty OF mo-
ofenSe-"killcd on land and sea with
out warning and without Justification
There have been times" he con-
tinued. when our patience has been
strained to the limit. and when dan
ger TO our own national peace lurkrd
In the thickenine shadows of every
passing day. Yes. there have been
times when our peace was preserved
only by the clear vision, the steady
hand. tn" res"lutc heart Of one man
DO not such things give us some right
OF our own TO speak "A kindly word ON
behalf Of pcacc?''