Macon beacon., 1917-06-08

among nations and is therefore binding
. National representatives. IN conventions
assembled reached the agreements and
/ these agreements were dulv entered
upon statute books for International
! government in peace and war. There
was the convention of Paris ip 1856
/ which declared against the free-booter
\ and the privateer. The Geneva CON
| ycntion Of 1864 neutralized ambulaDces
military hospitals, and all persons EN-.
/ nloyed in hospita and medical service
/ The Peace convention Of 1899 extended
these principles to naval warfare. Yet
German submarines sink British hsspi.
tai SHIPS.
The st. Petersburg convention of 1863
declared that the end of war is to disa-
bic, not TO kill, and forbade the use Of
any proJectile of less weight than 400
grams which is explosive, or is charged
with Illuminating or inhammable sub
stances. Then there were the confer
ences Of London and others: and thus
international law has grown by due pro
cess into its present form.
These agreements among the noweys
were made in apparent good faith. and
nations are supposed to be honest Il be-
leve Republics are-and not desiring
their suspension even among belipe
rents, the United States government
has made protests during the war now
IN progress when any of the articles
composing these agreements have been
violated We have Often been shocked
as a righteous neutral. but until the
IiVes and property Of American citizens
became involved we felt no iustifica-
lion for any action beyond thatof max
ing protests.
But Americans on board an American
ship, under an American flag, are sub.
lect to American laws, and are. there
lore, que American protection, so when
American ships have been sunk and
american lives takeh in a manner Who'll.
" contrary to international law by SUBJ
marines IN an illegal blockade, the
Nmerlcan government, in good faith to
is citizens, has declared the illegal act
rs creating a state of war and has ac.
epted the status Of a belligerent.
1t ls true that President Wilson or
ered Americans to keep out of Mexico
Vhlle he dld not warn them to keep out
Of the "War zone" But In Mexico the
government Was not responsible for the
condition of affairs. A nation is clearly
not liable for damage resulting from
ri2lS, clVlI commotion or civil war in
vhich property and lives cf aliens and
citizens alike suffer. And the de faeto
government ostensibly endeavored to
order and enforce law.
The situation in the War Zone" was
different. The Imperial German gov
crnment was responsible for the illegal
acts grown & out of is submarine pol
icy, so the president, instead Of issuing
warning to American citizens as
some thought he ought to do. stood
firm on "the long established and incon-
tr6yortlhc rights Of neutrals, and the
sacred ImnuGlties Of non-combatants.
as he had a right to do, and demanded
compliance with international law, re-
IarcdsretrlbutIon for deliberate acts of
The position Of neutrality has been
difficult for us. Germany desired that
Americans be warned to keep out of ,
the war zone" whi,e the entente de. .
sized thaO America speak sternly in re- t.
gard to vloIat on of Belgium neutrality.
But the question Of Belgium neutrality -,
was none Of our business, We were !
not a party to the guarantee. The :
same was true of Lux rburg. Greece !
was an independent nation. guardian of !
her own neutrality. Technically, we
nave IN no lnatance purposoIy acted in
"a manner unneutal We sold war mu-
ltion7 to the allies; we would have sold 8
hem to the central powers had it not q
)een for the blockade in force by the I
llies. The German merchant subma- Q
me Deutchland found mere neutral |
lott, discharged her cargo and took on a
mother. Twice she came end twice r
laparted +
While the Uaited States governm mt c
iid protest against the activities of the I
Ierman submarines in the war zone, it $
ild not protest az INST the English 0
blockade because that blockade was v
everywhere effective and generally in e
accordance with international law d
treat Britain killed none of our citizens t
mo drowned none of our women and
'mldren. Great Britain seized our mer- r
1t is true, but carried it into v
Iort and had Its court sit upon it to ad- o
udtcate whether or not it was subject p
o contscation, Great Britain seized I
,ur cotton and our wheat to keep them y
rom gong to the enemy, but u.id for II
hem at the market price Great Brit
an has not thrown aside the articles of p
International agreement. s.
q
The attituje'of Germany now being d
IearIy that of a belligerent, only an ',
vert act was awaited for this country !.
lllclaIly to acknowledge A state of .
var. The overt act came when the I"
CITY of Memphis, F" illinois" and
vigilance, three American ships.
we're sunk by German submarines, car
yng down with them - American sea T
nen, The president quickly assembled ;,
ongress and went before that body II
'lth a message asking for a declaration 0
I the state of war existing betW en- 81
his government and the Imperial Ger a
IAN government A
with a profound sense" SAID the n
resident, "of the solemn and even \
ragical character of the step am TAX ci
=. and of the grave responsibilities
men It involves. but in unhasitating
bed'ence to what deem my constitu,
olal duty, | advise that the congress f.
ec.are the recent course of the Ger ~
IAN government to be in fact nothing i
'ss thaD war against the government
nd people of the United States; that
formally accept the status of balG-
erCnt which has thus been thrust unon
, and that it take immediate steps not
My TO put the country in q more ,hor.
lgh state of defense, but also 10 exert
N IFS p4u+ar ,4TA ,,,,,I-,- p -.