The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
Violations of Our Commerce Rights Even More Flag rant Than Is Germany's Conduct
URGENCY OF GERMAN CASE DELAYS ANY
 ACTION ON ENGLAND
American Patience, How ever, Sorely Tried by In- terference With Mails and Commercial Rights
By HIGH ". ROBERTS


 wnshington, March 1.-tspcciaI, The question of the Unitcd states in respect to the relationship existing be- tween this nation and the nations or Europe is one of strict neufraIity--onc in which it is agreed that this govern ment shall not aid one beIligerent to the hurt or injury Of another, and in which it Is proudly asserted that every inaIienabIe right possessed by Amer- icans shall he exercised without let or hindrance.
 Up to the present moment, the
 diplomatic relationship of this
 country and Germany has occu-
 pied practically the entire atten-
 ton of the Wilson cabinet. This
 fact is probably attributable to the
 spectacular and sensational nature
 of the German infringement
 against international law in con-
 trast with the transformations Brit
 ish infringement When a nation
 offends by destroying a merchant
 vessel entailing the loss of Amer
 ican life, it Is nothing other than
 human first to adjust that egreg-
 ious injury before issuing a de-s
 nland for reparation in thata an-
 other government has without lc-
 gal Justification. scrutinized Amer
 ican mafl.
 There is every reason to believe. hower nr? that President Wilson will prove false the allegation that he is pro-ally in lis sympathy by demands ing in the consparatfvely near futura an English apology for the countless offenses of that nation against Amer ican dignity and honor
 PROBLEMS HANG FIRE And yet when 1t is remembered that the Lusitania case is still without . permanent settlement. and that up to this hour the nation responsible for the destruction of the Persia and the death of an American consul Is not definitely determined, there is apparent reason for the Washington opinion that the European struggle will not bo brought to a conclusion before Great Britain is forced to abandon its contemptious attitude toward Amer = can commerce-an American right as inalienable as that of freedom of travel.
 The United Kingdom, probably due to the nature of its peculiar method 0f warfare. has not been guilty of mur- dering American citizens. For despite the alleged power of the British navys the gallant achievements of the sea l have been the boast of Germany. Eng- land Is wnging n commercial warfare it seems, and will continue 50 to do until the last brave Frenchman ex- pires. It's offenses against nes'trals have naturally been, therefore, ef- lenses of a commercial character-bue orfenses involving principles as sacrea as those which guarantee safety to life.
 The department of state recognixeD that the United Kingdom has no le- gal right to dictate to the United States it's commercial programme-to name those nations with which thin nation may trade. and to specify those particular articles to the traffic in which American exportation must De restricted. And it is reasonable to presume that the department of state will. at the opportune moment, assert itself. and demand of Britain the re- (Continued on Page rhree)