The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-07-26
How the War Came to Amsrle,
Continued from last week

In the meantime although our
neutrals rights were not brought
into question by Germany as early
as by England, the German contro.
Nersy was infinitely more serious.
For any discussions that might
arise, no arbitration treaty existed
between the United States and the
German Government. This was
from no fault of ours. We had
tried to establish with Germany
the same treaty relations we had
with Great Britain and - other
nations. But these overtures had
teen rejected. And this action on
the part of the Imperial German
Government was only one example
OF Its whole system of diplomacy.
In both conferences at The Hague
1t had been the German delegates
who were the most active in block
ing all projects for the pacific set
tlement Of disputes between ma
lions. They had preferred to limi,
international relations to the old
modes of diplomacy and war. 1t
was therefore obvious from the
first that amy controversy with the
German Government would be ex-
ceedlngly serious: for if it could
not be solved by direct diplomatic
conversations. there was no IT,
course except to war.
From such conversations there
Is small hope of satisfactory results
unless the good faith of both sides
is profound. If either side lacks
good faith. on reveals in all it's ac-
tons an insidious hostility. diplo-
macy is of no avail. And so it has
proved in the present case.
In he first year of the war the
Govelnrmtn of Germany stirred up
among it's people a feeling of re-
sent mrnt against the United States
on account of our insistence upon
cur rights as Il neutral nation TO
trade in munitions with the bc!Ii.
e"wntS powers. Our legal right ia
the matter was not serious v u,,,.s-
tened by Germany. She could
Ect have done SO consistently. for
as Recently as the Balkan Wars Of
1912 and 1913 both Germany an,
Austria sold munitions to the bell
igrr"nts. Their appeals to us in
the present war were moi to be oh
serve international law, but to re-
wise ii in their interest. And these
appeals they tried to make on NOR
al and humanitarian grounds. But
upon The neral issue" involved
the stand taken by the United
STATES was consistent with it's tra;'.
i'innal policy and with obvious
common sense. For if. with all
other nrutrals. We refused to sci!
munitions to brlligc,nnts. we could
n"v'r in imr Of war of our own
obtain munitions from ne,ltr;.ls,
and the nation which had acc,ln,.-
lated the largest reserves OF war
supplies in time Of peace would be
assured of victory The militaris!
state that invested it's money in ar
Senals would BE- ut fatal advant-
age over the free people who in
vested their wealth in schools TO
write into international law that
nrutrals should not trade i'm NUM-
tons void be to hand over the
world to the rule of the nation
with the largest armament factor
les. Such policy the United
States of America could not accept.
But our principal controversy
with the German Government. and
the one which rendered the situa-
ton at once acute. rose out of their
announcement Of Il sea zone where
their submarines would operate in
Violation of all accepted principles
of international law. Our indig
nation al such threat was soon
rendered passionate by The sinking
Of the Lusitnnia. This attack up
on our rights was not only grossly,
! illegal: it defi"d the Fundamental
concepts Of humanity. Aggrayat-
DIG restraints on orr trade were.
grievances which could be settled
~ litigation after TIE war. BIZ,
the wanton murder Of peaceablr
men and Of Innocent women and
children. citizens Of q nation with
which Germany was at peace. was
a crime against the civilized! world
which could never De settled i'm any
court.
Our Government. however. in