The Washington times., 1916-06-04

tatement that has been made
high Administration official
bn Americas foreign policy
European belligerents. Secre-
Ing last night explained to
ION County Bar Association
demarcation between this
Is attitude toward Germany
ide toward Great Britain.
" stating both countries
tied illegal acts. Secretary
phasized that those COM
mitted BY Germany have affected neu-
trail human life; those OF Great Britain
loss OF neutral property.
"1t Is true rights violated by bel
Iigerents may differ in Importance, and,
therefore require different treatment.
he explained. Thus, violation OF the
natural right OF life Is much more
serious ofrense against an individual
and against his nation than violtesion oil
the legal right OF his property.
''There is not and cannot be adequate
recompense for wrongful destruction or
Me, but property losses NAL be salts
fed by payment OF indemnities.
Which Gives Greater Concern7
''If one belligerent violates right OF
life and another violates right OF prop
erty, can you doubt for one moment
which one gives this Government
greater concern. or which one will call
forth the more vigorous protest and the
more earnest effort to prevent repeu-
ton of the offense?
IN government which places life AMI
property or an equality would be gen.
orally condemned. and Justly con-
many who do not recognize this differ
encc. Indeed. some of these sit In tire
halls OF Congress"
Patience. declared Lansing. must con-
- ,l.., L..
its foreign affairs. especially at this
time when an extraordinary situation
demands extraordinary treatment. with
due regard for the mental state of those
who are straininC every nerve to defeat
their enemies"
Lansing adraitted conflicting argu-
ments voiced by each side sometimes
are rec sonal,le. 4 not sound" But he
guments unless both sides agreed to
proposed changes. would affect the
very foundation Of international law.
Belligerents' Misfortune.
TT has been this nations position
from the beginning Of the war;" said
the Secretary. that II is the belliger-
ents' misfortune II It is impossible, I'M
der changed conditions OF warfare, to
conform to accepted conditions Of inter-
national law. They certainly cannot ex-
pect neutral nations to submit without
rights"
Returning to the difference between
violation Of life and violation Of prop
erty. Secretary Lansing scored those
who complain that the Government
does not exert as much pressure to pro-
tect American property as II does to
protect American life-lives which never
fled. LIN. -. ~. 80, 80.
This mental attitude" he said.
snakes one wonder " the sensibihties
OF the American people have been so
as much of their loss of property as
they do of the loss of lives of their
fellow countrymen. Such an idea Is re-
pugnant to liberty-loving Americans
Yet It exists. and is widespread. and
must be reckoned with. That II exists Is
bad. for II shows the great heart of
the nation is threatened with fatty de-
generacy, through those who have lost
their patriotic vigor. that many Amer
leans have become lovers of ease rather
than lovers of national honor"
Pleads for Leniency.
Pleading for leniency. since the public
necessarily cannot be taken wholly into
confidence on many diplomatic ques-
lions. Lansing said:
when the foreign policies OF this
critics-those not biased by political or
personal ambitions-I often wonder
what those critics would do II they
had the responsibility. Would they be
so bellcose? Would they make de-
mands when It was questionable they
could compel compliance? RESPONSE
bility makes a world of difference In
a mans point of view.
"When a few words may plunge this
country into war, the man who has the
power to utter those words will think a
long, long time before he utters those
...la do A l..n.. Ia.