Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-02-20

"a ofa-1 territorial, and to
20 = iloer the Control ofthe Ameri-
can Navy Department-No Like
oo OF Friction Arising-Capt.
oigsbee Will Have Full Charge
q the Wrecked Vessel as Pro-
perty OF This Government.
gton, February 19.-Secretary
i1ohs ana Assistant Secretary Day. of
'ne state Department. had an inter
NieW win the President this morning
"nich tasted nearly an hour. Mr. Day
ieau cablegram from Consul General
Nee at havana, transmitting a request
from the Spanish authorities in Cnba
'nae the Spanish officials be permitted
" JON with our own people in making
an investigation into the cause OF the
disaster TO the Maine. The matter
vas discussed at considerable length
anu the conclusion was reached. and
uen. Lee will be notified that while
.nis government is willing to afford
ehe spanish authorities all reasonable
ldcllltles Tor conducting an investiga-
ZION, yet 1t is thought best the first
inquiry snail be made by our own
commissioners The request of the
spanish authorities, therefore. will DC
RESPECTFULLY DECLINED.
The request of the Spanish govern
hieht TOT permission to examine the
wreck OF the Maine reached the STATE
department last night through the fol-
lowing message from Consul General
Lee:
Havana, February IS.
Assistant Secretary Day, Washington
Sigsbee begins tomorrow with div
ers sent him from the United States to
recover all bodies still left in wreck
OF Maine, as well as personal effects
OF officers and men, and whatever else
can be obtained in that way. After
this is completed the Spanish govern
ment would like to unite with ours IN
having bottom of ship and harbOr in
vicinity jointly examined. LEE"
THE FOLLOWING is THE ANSWER
Washington, February 10.
Lee, Consul General, Habana:
The government of the United
States has already begun an investiga
ton as to the causes of the disaster to
specially appointed for that purpose,
which will proceed independently.
This government will afford every
facility it can to the Spanish authori-
ties in whatever investigation they
may see fit TO make upon their part.
DAY. Assistant Secretary"
The apparent difficulty attending the
sending down of divers to the Maine
was relieved, if not entirely removed,
by a statement to-day by Senior Du-
Bose. charge daffaires of the Spanish
legation. that a complete and harmon
ious understanding between Captain
Sigsbee and the authorities at Havana
had been reached on the matter OF
divers. and that the Spanish sauthorl-
lilies viewed the Maine as. eXtra-terrl-
t0riaI, that is, part of the sovereign
territory OF
THE UNITED STATES,
the same as a United States legation
sluated in foreign territory. With the
Maine holding it's status as extrater-
ritoriaI. all doubt as to the work on the
wreck are removed The waters of
Havana harbor are of course Spanish
territory. and some confusion had been
aroused by the idea that this jurisdic-
tion over the waters attached also to
the wreck in it's present helpless con-
dition at the bottom OF the bay.
II appears. however, that there is no
dienosition to extend this jurisdiction
n the ship. and that the Spanish
authorities freely assent to the Name 5
being regarded as extra territorial, and
,,nder the Immediate direction OF
f,ant Sigsbee as the representative OF
ia Tinted States. According to the
view taken by the Spanish authorities,
+hera can be no trouble attending the
,ro,k of the divers. Capt. Sigsbee Will
III RECOGNIZED as the one to direct
onerations and to send down the gov
ernment divers fCr such Inspection as
10 secs proper TO make. Mr. Du Bose
feels assured, however, that Capt. Slgs-
bee will
EXTEND EQUAL FACILITIES
~ the SPANISH divers, so that the in
snections may proceed together As
~ what divers Capt. Sigsbee will en-
nlov. the feeling among Spanish ON
riais here is that this Will be wholly
q matter of discretion with Capt. oIgS-
hee as the one in charge OF a piece ol
nroperty having the attributes ol
american soil. But at the same Tune
The feeling is expressed that TINS d's-
cretion will lead to the choice OF au-
tborized divers of the Navy Depart
n,ont rather than those repre- -ent!hg
newspapers. e.a,,i.1, -,
tborities that the wreck of the Maine
= ovtra- territorial and a part of the
soveraian soil Of the United States.
,ronises to establish an important
i,racadent in international law; The
pp,,tbo,ities agree that warship, while
afoat retains the territorial status
e. - own government even when in
ea.aion waters. But the writer's DO
~ siscuss cases analogous to that of
~ Maine wherein the home sover-
o;entv Of the ship is retained after she
hacomes a wreck. Wolsey + lnterna-
t;onal law says that warships are, as
- wore iloating barracks. part OF the
arhlic organism and represent the ma
tional dignity. and on this account
eTan in foreign waters, are exempt
from nreDrrTroN
:. : on account of the crew, rather
+han the ship itself, that it has any
tnrritorial quality Take the crew
49, and let the abandoned hulk be
49," 49, Of sea. and it now becomes pubic
nronertv and nothing more.
- f.anava court of arbitration heid