Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-29
Former British Attorney General Tells Americans in Londor
That NeutraIs Must Prove Ability to Secure Action or Fu
ture Decisions Will Continue to Be BY Wars

Sir Edward Carson, former British
attorney-general, told gathering of
500 Americans in London recently that
no neutral nation can by mere notes
maintain the obligations of interna-
tiCnal law.
Sir Edwards speech. which has been
read with great interest by com
paratively few people in Honolulu, was
made at the American luncheon Club.
He said:
| have an additional reason for OBJ
lecting TO speak at the present mo-
ment ] was. until recently. a MEM
Der Of the cabinet, at all events,
Part of it, though OF how much ! new
Ell quite knew, but OF whatever part,
we were all subject TO the official
secrets act, as 1 advised the govern
ment IN my capacity of attorney-gen'
eral, and indeed the advice was very
much needed. would remind some
people that there are certain matters
which you learn of, even in that de
hating society, which had better not
be- repeated outside the doors of that
sanctuary. Therefore, | hope that no
body whom have the honor OF adj
dressing will imagine for moment
that | am gong TO make any import
ant revelations.
America is the greatest neutral of
the present moment, and naturally
turn to the conduct OF neutrals IN re-
lation TO the mitigation of the horrors
of war. Nothing ills me more with
dismay when think of the outcome
CT the horrible period through which
We are passing than the fact-l am not
blaming anybody, but il is a fact
that international law, which is the
product OF all the peace instincts OF
all nations with a view to preventing
the interruption OF progress and civl.
lizaticn, even in the time OF hosuli
ties, has, fear, been entirely aDol'
ished, or, at any rate, greatly en-
croached upon by the impotence OF the
neutrals themselves. In times OF peace
we hold great conventions, which peo-
pie hope are steps forward in The adj
vance of civilization and humanity, in
order to mitigate the horrors OF war,
but when we get into the horrors OF
war we ought to remember and, above
all, neutral countries ought TO remem-
her, that 1t is only the neutral coun
tries who are behind these conyen-
tions of humanity to which i have re-
ferred. Abolish the power Of nedtrals
when countries are al war and you
have abolished international law
| itself
Danger From Reprisals.
1 his war, from the start, has shown
the ineptltude and powerlessness Of
neutrals. 1t commenced by the sacrl,
flee of little country which had been
guaranteed its freedom and its peace
by all the great powers OF Europe, and
the war had not been on for more
than few hours when you saw the
futillty of these guarantees. in the
same way, as time went en-, element
airy rules CT great importance, Tor
Which naIlons nad been struggling IN
times or peace TO take away some OF
the i1orr.Dle results OF war, were
blown to the winds. But that was moi
all The necessity for the mainten.
ance and sustaining and supporting OF
International law and international
Jurisprudence becomes more vital, and
is brought home more to us when we
remember that a breach of information
al law necessarily in the rules OF war
leads to reprisals, and the reprisals
know no limit and, therefore, the first
breach OF International law leads on
in the downward path almost to its
abrogatiCn. There are results from
this war which no one could have an
ticipated, and there will be results in
the future which are perhaps even
! more serious. Just as, though you
may delude or mystify or luIl into a
sense of security your own citizens by
speeches and by perorations, and you
will not thereby win a war, so in the
international sphere you may, by dip