THE DUTY OF NEUTRALS

Evening Star, Issue 16049, 28 February 1916, Page 4

THE DUTY OF NEUTRALS

In a recent address to tho American Club in London Sir Edward Carson graphically pointed out the ineptitude 'and powerlessness of neutrals as shown by tho present war. He said < " I have an additional reason for objecting to speaking at the present moment. I was, until recently, a member of the Cabinet ; at all events a part of it, though of how much 1 nevor quite knew, but of whatever part, we were all subject to tho Official Secrets Act, as I advised the Government in my capacity of Attorney* General, and, indeed, the advice was very much needed. I would remind some people that there are certain matters which you learn of, even in that debating society, which had better not be repeated outside the doors of that sanctuary. Therefore I hope that nobody whom I have the honor of addressing will imagine for a moment* that I am going to make any importantrevelations. —The Greatest Neutral.— " America is tho greatest neutral of the present, moment, and I naturall-v turn to the- conduct of neutrals jn, relation to the mitigation of the horrors of war. Nothing fills me more with dismay when I think of the outcome, of the horrible period through which we are passing than tho fact—l am not blaming anybody, but it is a fact—that international law', which is the product of all the peaco in* stiucls of all nations with a view to preventing the interruption of progress* aud_ civilisation, oven in the time of hostilities, has, I fear, been entirely abolished, or, at a;iy rate, greatly encroached upon., by the impotence of the neutrals themselves. In times of peace we hold great conventions, which people hope are steps forward in the advance of civilisation and ■ humanity, in order to mitigate the horrors of war; but when we get into the horrors of war we ought to remember, and above all neutral countries ought to remember, that it is only the neutral countries who are behind these conventions of humanity to which I haye referred. Abolish ' the power of neutrals when countries are at war, and you havoabolished international law itself. —Danger of Reprisals.— "This war, from the start, has shown; the ineptitude and powerlessness of neutrals. It commenced by the sacrifice of a, little country which had been guaranteed its freedom and its peace by all the Great Powers of Europe, and the war had not been on for more than a few hours when you saw the futility of these guarantees. In the same way, a,s time went on, elementary rules of great importance, for which nations had been struggling in times o£ peace to take away some o£ the horrible results of ivar, -were blo-srn. to ther winds. But that was not all. The necessity for the maintenance and sustaining and supporting of international law and international jurisprudence becomes more vital, and is brought home more to us when we remember that a breach of international law necessarily in the rules of war leads to reprisals, and tho reprisals know no limit, and therefore the firsts, breach of international law leads on in tho downward path almost to its abrogation. There are results from tins war which no one could have anticipated, and thero will be results in the future which are perhaps even more serious. Just as, though you may delude or mystify or lull into tt sense of security your own citizens by speeches and by perorations, and you will not thereby win a war, so in the international sphere you may, by diplomatic Notes, numerous and strong, satisfy the consciences of your citizens, but you will nob by a mere Note maintain the obligations which are put upon you as parties to international law, which are to prevent breaches of civilisation and to mitigate the horrors of war. T look forward myself to the results of this war, in its relation to international questions, with a great deal o[ anxiety and misgiving, because I should like to ask i 'lf inter* national law has proved futile by reason of the impotence of neutrals during tlm operations of the belligerents in this great* struggle, how are we iu the future ever again to rely upon conventions as any bap to the terrible horrors which have been perpetrated?' —Possibilities of Neutrals.— " I make this appeal to neutrals : remember that neutrals may one day bo belligerents, and remember that while, the golden ideal of every real citizen who loves his country and loves his people must be peace—remember that if this war terminates, and it is proved that neutrals have been unable to take their place as the executives of international law, "there can lio but one safeguard for peace in tho future, and that, I think, one which is not for the benefit of humanity—an increase of armaments and the maintaining of ev.en greater armies than in the past." Sir Edward Carson concluded by assuring his hearers that his speech, was not meant as a reproach to anyone, and by paying grateful tribute to tho rnanv benefits that America has conferred "on humanity during the war. Ho acknowledged in particular tho brave and humane efforts to save Nurse Cavell made by Mr Brand Whitlock and Mr Gibson in Brusselsmen, he said, of whom America ought to be proud. (Cheers.)