Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-01

destruction only as a result Of mistaken
4 identity, now all neutral ships are ap-
parently marked for destruction if they
venture within the prescribed waters.
After the original announcement two
years ago. and particularly after the
destruction without warning of the Lusi-
| tania, the United States protested, and
| after a series of exchanges secured from
| Germany certain notifications of its
blockade rules and last spring obtained
from that government promise in the
| following terms:
"In accordance with the general prin
eiples of visit and search and the de-
struetion of merchant vessels recognized
! by international law. such vessels. both
| within and without the area declared a
| naval war zone. shall not be sunk with
out warning and without saving human
lives, unless the ship attempt to escape
or offer resistance"
In this note Germany reserved the
right of complete liberty of decision
eminent of the United States not at
tain the object it desires. to have the
, laws of humanity followed by all bellig
erent nations" With respect to this
reservation this government in its note
of May s. 1916. notified Germany that
it could not entertain, much less could
it discuss. "a suggestion that respect by
German naval authorities for the rights
of citizens of the United States upon
in the slightest degree he made contin-
gent upon the conduct OF any other gov
eminent affecting the rights of neutrals
and non-combatants.'
Germany has now exercised that self
reserved right of modifying its pledge of
consideration for the lives of neutrals
on the ground that its enemies have re-
jeeted its proffers of peace and are
continuing their blockade of Germany
its people. In the war itself no new
condition has arisen to justify such
change. Germany now says. to the
United States that because the, allies
will not listen to peace proposals the
pledges given last year respecting the
security of neutral lives at sea are
cancelled. The United States has al
ready said that it cannot recognize any
reservation of pledge withdrawal
There should be no declaration of war
based upon a mere exchange of papers
or a pronouncement of an intention by
recent declarations both governments
have expressed their ardent wish for
peace. One side or the other must make
war by some specific act. 1t will be
hard, however, to escape a declaration
of war if Germany sinks an American
ship and destroys American lives within
the extended war zone in violation of
international law and in violation also
of its pledges given last May.
Today the paradox is presented of two
nations dwelling upon the horrors of
war and seeking peace brought by cir
cumstances not wholly of their own
making to the brink of conflict. The
United States cannot accept the prin-
ciple of blockade extending hundreds
Of miles into the Atlantic ocean, block
ade that cannot surely be made effective
and in the maintenance of which in the
terms now laid down American vessels
are at the risk of destruction without
warning with all ON board If Germany
has been led to believe by the patience
heretofore manifested by this govern
ment in its dealings with her that the
United States will successfully accept
notifications of and departures from in
ternational law, increasingly injurious
to American rights and destructive of
American lives, it has totally miscon-
eeived the spirit of the American people.