The Carlisle independent., 1917-02-08


 >~>~->->-->-@~~s~a~-~----- ~---------~-~~-~---~->-> will hte withdrawn. Someone else will nave to take Up the cause of human ity on land.
 Precedent for the severance of dip lomatic relations is found in modern history only between lesser nations and between first-class powers and les ser ones. The United States suspend ed diplomatic relations with Mexico, and only recently were they resumed It suspended diplomatic relations with Nicaragua when the Dictator Zelaya executed two Americans, Cannon and Groce
 Charge Demanded Passports
 When John Quincy Adams was pres ident the American charge daffaires at Rio demanded his passports and re. turned to the United States without instructions because he considered un- warranted the capture of American ships by Brazilian war vessels, enforc- ing blockade. President Adams did not disapprove, but Brazil contended the charges action was unwarranted by adequate international cause" and later the American legation was re- opened.
 Under President Buchanan the American minister to Mexico suspend ed the relations of his legation until he could get the view of the United States on what he considered forced loans upon Americans in Mexico Al though President Buchanan did not agree with the minister's action, he sanctioned closing the legation be- cause of wrongs to Americans in Mex ico.
 Great Britain suspended diplomatic relations with Venezuela for 10 years, from 1887 to 1897, and suspended dip lomatic relations with Servia from 1903 to 1906 after the murder of King Alexander and Queen Draga.
 In 1870 Congress authorized Presi- dent Grant to suspend transit of goods to Canada in bond as an extreme meas ure to prohibit Canadian vessels in American waters because of the at titude of the Canadian government to- ward American fishermen. An em- bargo on ships or exports is legiti- mate. Congress imposed such embar- goes in the years preceding the War of 1912 on trade with both England and France. Great Britain in 1903 laid a hnctiIo lor sels in British ports.
 Nonintercourse acts can be passed by Congress to stop commerce be- tween the United States and Ger many. Such acts were passed against Great Britain and France between 179S and 1909
 Displays of force have been ire quently used by the United States and European powers to impress the earn estness of their position.
 When all the measures short of war have been exhausted. or either nation decides to dispense with them, comes the eventuality of war itself.
 More than 100 times since 1700 war idS ptSuH OtlOTt IL was IOTmAIIY 0p- clared. Only 12 times in the 216 years has war actually been declared before hostilities began The latest notable instance was the opening ac- tion of the Russo-Japanese war. when Admiral Togo struck a Russian fleet.
 The Hague convention of 1907 took notice of the situation and adopted an article making it mandatory for a na- tion to declare war before beginning hostilities. Germany and the United States, with other nations, agreed to it.
 It provided, however, that there might be an ultimatum with condi- tional declaration of war. The Hague conventions and the fabric of interna- tional law generally have been so torn during the present war, however, that no diplomatist ventures to say how far any nation may be expected to re- gard itself as bound by the provis- fouc