Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-07-11
tcontinued from tuesdays Issue)

goiAe oAg NeNSANA AN@A-
But the spirit OF neutrality was
not easy to maintain. Public opin-
ion was deeply stirred by the Ger
man invasion OF Belgium and by re-
ports OF atrocities there. The Royal
Belgian commission. which came in
September. 1914. to lay their country's
cause for complaint before our nation
al government, was received with sym
pathy and respect. The president in
HIS reply reserved our decision in the
affair. 1t was the only course he could
take without an abrupt departure from
our most treasured traditions of non
interference in Old World disputes.
But the sympathy OF America went
out to the Belgians in their heroic
tragedy. and from every section OF
our land money contributions and sup
plies of food and clothing poured over
to the Commission for Relief in Bel
giuin. which was under the able man.
agement OF our fellow countrymen
abroad.
Still, the thought of taking an &C
tive part in this European war was
very far from most OF our minds.
The nation shared with the president
the belief that by maintaining strict
neutrality we could best serve Europe
at the end as impartial mediators.
But in the very first days OF the
war our government foresaw that
complications on the seas might put
US In grave risk of being drawn into
the conflict. No neutral nation could
foretell what violations OF its vital
interests at sea might be attempted
by the belligerents. And so, on Aug.
ust 8. 1914, our secretary Of state dis
patched an identical note to all the
powers then at war. calling attention
to the risk of serious trouble arising
out Of this uncertainty OF neutrals as
to their maritime rights and proposing
that the Declaration OF London be &C.
cepted by all nations for the duration
of the war.
But the British governments re-
spouse, while expressing sympathy
with the purpose of our suggestion
and declaring their keen desire to
consult as far as possible the inter
ests OF neutral countries" announced
their decision "to adopt generally the
rules OF the declaration in question,
subject to certain notifications and
additions which they Judge indIspen.
sable to the efficient conduct OF their
naval operations" The declaration
had not been Endorsed by any power
In time OF peace, and there was no
legal obligation on Great Britain to
accept 1t. Her reply, however, was
disappointing, for II did nothing to
clarity the situation. Great Britain
recognized as binding certain long &C.
cepted principles OF International law
and sought now to apply them to the
peculiar and unforeseen conditions of
this war But these principles were
NahNH FobuV iutItlnIt lull uan-
gerous possibilities OF friction.
Controversies soon arose between
Great Britain and this nation. In
practice their ruling sometimes seem.
ed to our government Inconsistent
With the spirit Of international law
and especially with the established
pfecedents which they invoked. But
painful as this divergence OF opinion
sometimes was, II did not seriously
threaten our position of neutrality, for
the Issues that arose involved only
rights OF property and were ampl,
covered by the arbitration treaty
signed only short time before b,
Great Britain and the United States
And this controversy led to {
clearer understanding on our part o
the British attitude toward our idea
Of the freedom OF the seas. The,
were not willing to accept our classic
cation Of the seas as being distinc
from the Old World. We had con
lined our interest to matters affect
ing rights at sea and had kept care
fully aloof from issues affecting III,
interests of European nations OF
land. The British we're interests,
In both. They explained that the,
had participated in the London ma
val conference in the hope that Il
would lead TO sound and liberia
entente in the interest of the right.
Of all nations on the sea and on tn,
land as well. and that they had re
fused to ratify the London Declare
ton because no compensating nc
cord on the continent had resulted
They could not afford to decreag,
the striking power OF their navy un
less their powerful neighbors or
land agreed to decrease their armies
That this attitude OF England
deeply impressed our government IL
shown by the increasing attention
given by the United States to the
search for ways and means OF insur.
Ing at the end Of the war q lasting