Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1917-01-24

ly forbidden by Article 35 OF The
Hague Convention
Cotton. rubber, wool, silk, textiles
ana every other article expressly
exempted from seizure as contra
band by Article % OF Tho Hague
Convention have been declared con
traDand by British Orders in Coun-
Gil, and American ships carrying
these articles are seized and their
cargoes conilscated, in flat viola
tion Of Great Britain's pledge and
guarantee at The Hague.
American ships have been for
bid1en, under penalty of seizure, to
carry hospital supplies to sick and
wounded German and Austrian sol
dicrs, which is flat violation of
the agreements and pledges Of the
Geneva Convention, ratified by Great
Britain and al other great Powers.
Neutral mails to and from this
country are seized every day, search
ed delayed and destroyed, if the
Kirkwall censors~see fit to destroy
them and mails between this coun-
try and Germany and Austria are
all seized and detained a flat viola
ton Of the clear statement Of inter-
national law in Article 1, Conven-
tion of Tho Hague, which Great
Britain signed and ratified as
treaty party.
In fact there is not single treaty
guarantee or single article Of inter-
national law defining and guaran-
teeing neutral rights on the seas
which the Government OF England,
Germany, Austria, France, Russia,
Italy and Japan have not openly,
constantly and very contemptuous-
ly violated, to the commercial loss
OF our citizens and to the serious
derogation of our rights and honor
as sovereign State.
Now, 1t mugt be evident to all OF
YOU, citizens. that we cannot submit
to such inrolerable insolcnce and
aggression through the course OF an
other war.
And as the word OF honor and the
signed agreements and solemn trea-
ties Of all these European nations
arc Of no value whatever. what
should wo do to compel respect for
neutral rights?
Why. we. ghould begin and con-
tinue TO strengthen our navy until
it Is tho strongest afloat: we should
begin and continue to train all our
young men to hear arms; We should
establish great schools for the free
education OF officers; we should
build great government plants for
the manufacture of arms and muni-
tions and aircraft; VIC should lay up
large stores ri weapons and war
material and VIC should formally
notify the powers at their Peace
Congress that hereafter, in every
"a t.ts IL,
mandS and insists upon the COM
plcfc freedom OF the seas for neutral
commerce, and that it will consider
any violation OF that freedom, to the
injury OF the person or property OF
even SO much as one American citi-
zen, rs declaration of war.
We have seen what these belll-
gerents caro- for neutral rights that
are not backed up With the will and
the power to protect them by force.
We have seen Belgium oyerrun,
Greece abused and starved, Holland
and tho scandinavian Kingdoms put
on rations. ourselves and all other
neutrals aubiccted TO the order Of
the British Admiralty, treaties and
declarations and written interna-
tional law contemptuously disrc-
trampled under food by Teutons
and by allies alike
What other conclusion can we
Americans arrive at than that our
reliance must be upon our ability
90 compel respect for international
law and for neutral rights and for
the freedom of tho seas?
Certainly VIC cannot forever sub
nit no wrongs such as VIC have en-
durcd.
Certainly VIC must either prepare
TO maintain our rights or have every
insolent Power kicking those rights
about.
Certainly countrymen, VIC cannot
forever go on presenting the painful
and shameful spectacle OF begging
alien perinis SiUn to voyage and trade
over the water highways Of the
world.
And certainly VIC ought to mako
our country storing enough to pro
tcct us ALL TO maintain our rights,
to secure our safety. to keep the
oceans free to our commerce and to
beat 10 pulp any enemy who
molcsts us on sea or land.
The freedom OF the scaes and the
observance OF the rights of peutrals
under the agreements and the laws
of nations are the paramount
demands upon which America must
/ insist.
And if VIC are to secure those es-
scntial rights, we must not depend
upon treaties OF conventions or dec
larations of international law, but
soon our ability 10 enforce those
rights against future aggressors
with the only argument that aggres-
sors which is the ready
sword in tho ST. ong hand.
If we are to have peace and to
ejoy our liberties and rights at
home and abrod, we must prepare as
though war was already knocking at
the outer gates.
We must put our trust in no gov
ernmcnts word or treaty pledges,
since every belligerent has repeated
~ broken its word and diregarded
It's guarantees to us during this war.
/ We must put our trust solely in
oui strength and our preparedness.
SO on our grard SO armed TO de-
J fond oureolx-rg and Our rights and