Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-01-15
NEuTRALs MUST UNITE.

determined insistence upon their rights and
the observance OF international law.
The food blockade and the oppression OF
Greece by the Entente Powers no less than he
submarine campaigns of the Teutons cons:l
tute grave violations of neutral rights and tine
law which nations supposedly held sacred up
to a year and a half ago. The barbaric sink
ing of passenger vessels by the sea-divers OF
the Central Powers has been pretty thoroughly
ventilated, but little is said of the unconscion-
able manner in which Greece is being torn by
the Allies. And yet what the Allies have done
by landing troops in Greece and fOrtifyine
Saloniki is a greater offense against neutra
territory that what Germany originally pro
posed to do in Belgium. Germany wanted per
mission to cross Belgium with her troops,
which is precisely what the Allies wanted.
Of Greece and just as openly demanded
Belgium refused and today is submerged.
conquered, crushed nation. Greece with per
haps greater discretion reluctantly allowed the
Allies to- land troops in Saloniki and now these
troops are making Greece battle ground
Further than this, the Allies not only want
Greece to yield her territory for their military
purposes but to attack the Central Powers and
their Allies if they cross into Greek soil to get
at the retreating armies of France and Britain
Apartment comment on this attitude of the
Entente group is made by an editorial writer
in the Review of Reviews, who says: ENG
land joins hands with Germany in the bad
doctrine that small powers have no rights that
great powers are bound to respect when a
question of military strategy is involved"
The submarine campaign against commerce
lis another powerfnl argument for league of
neutrals. The sinking of the Ancona and the
Persia IN Mediterranean waters is of the grav-
est import not only to Americans but to all
neutfals. Though some of the facts are in dis
pute, the principle is that on which the United
States held Germany to account for the de- |
struction of the Lusitania.
The Submarine that sank the liner Persia |
was carrying out policy one nation, Germany,
had abandoned, and another nation, Austria. ]
had pretended to ameliorate 1t is a policy
outlawed in the British Channel, the North |
Sea, st. Georges Channel and the Irish Sea.
American demands and German compliance |
Qutlawed this policy in the 'war-zone'' which
Germany last February drew around the Brit |
ish Isles Germany in this zone has quit the |
sinking of unarmed passenger vessels without
warning vessels which carry not merely non
combatants but neutrals. Germany in this zone |
has recognized the principles for which the
American administration has commended.
But this outlawed method of sea-campaign- |
ing is again evoked in the Mediterranean to
strike at lawful traffic and commerce which
aid the Ieuton enemies. Austria's submarines
are doing precisely that which Austria's ally
recognizes as not only illegal in war but un-
wise IN neutral relations. And Austria's tenn
porizing and evasive course vitiates all her
half-assurances of better conduct in the future.
There is talk now Of Austria Furnishing the
submarine commander who sank the Persia
II It was an<Austrian commander. This is
way 81 shifting responsibility which hardly
commends itself to common-sense or fair play.
For It is extremely unlikely that the Austrian
commander acted as he did without knowing
that on December Is the Austrian government
had said in its formal note:
Even II this presentation referring to the Wig
orous and dehnitely.worded protest on the Ancona
Enkingl were correct In all points and the rig
orous legal conception were applied to the judg-
ment OF the Il does not in any way sufficiently
warrant attaching blame to the commanding officer
u the vessel to the imperial and royal gov
eminent"
Put with less diplomatic euphemism, Aus
tria in substance said fatty that the most rig
orous judgment could not fix responsibility on
the commanding officer of the submarine which
sent the Ancona to the bottom.
Now take the course of Austrian diplomacy
and sea-campaign following the Ancona sink
ing. There was first the protest of the United
States and the reply of Austria, dated Decem-
Il oc krI hox,o ell IL,