262 ROWE— AMERICA AS THE 



the American Continent. By the inevitable logic of events they 

 have become the only effective defenders of neutral rights, and 

 unless they unitedly respond to the call they will become accomplices 

 in the destruction of that delicate fabric of international law which 

 represents the triumph of world interest over selfish national de- 

 sign, and which is the expression of the spirit of social order in 

 international affairs. 



The obligation assumes the character and dignity of a world duty, 

 and can only be effectively performed through the united action of 

 the American republics. It is true that the interests of the neutral 

 nations of Europe are in many respects similar to our own, and there 

 is every reason to hope and expect that they will support the united 

 policy of the nations of the American continent. There is, how- 

 ever, much to be gained in giving to the principles which we are 

 prepared to support a distinctive American background, and in em- 

 phasizing the fact that in the present crisis of the world's affairs the 

 republics of America have not only become the special guardians 

 and custodians of neutral rights, but are also prepared to fulfil 

 with no less zeal, every neutral obligation. The world service which 

 the republics of America are called upon to perform, through their 

 united action, is of a two-fold character : 



First. They must firmly and unitedly maintain those neutral 

 rights which have received the sanction of long continued practice 

 and observance, and 



Second. They must be prepared to carry one step further the 

 law relating to neutral rights and obligations. 



As regards the first point, we cannot hope to make much progress 

 unless it is possible firmly to establish the principle that belligerent 

 convenience is no adequate basis for a system of international law 

 and that, in fact, such a principle is destructive of all law. 



The most notable advances in international law have been made 

 because of the increasing importance of neutral interests and the 

 compromises which belligerents have been compelled to make be- 

 cause of this fact. With each conflict there is evident a tendency 

 on the part of belligerents to undermine, usually through forced 

 and unnatural interpretation, the accepted principles of international 



