The San Francisco call., 1898-03-04
GOvernm ents That May Look After Interests
 of Subjects.
Nothing to Prevent Them in Joining Uncle Sam in De-
 manding Indemnity.
In the Event of Treachery Beinq Proved Spain May Have Sew
 eraI Powers to Deal With.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, March 3-The Herald's Washington correspondent sends the following: Other countries besides the United States may have something to say regarding the settlement of the Maine affair. When that ship was blown up in Havana narbor there were nineteen young men among those lost who were not citizens of the United States, and had not declared their in- tention to become citizens. There were in all IF men in the crew born outside of the United States. Of this number forty-six were born under the flag of Great Britain, two in France, fourteen in Germany, thirteen in Norway, eight cen in Sweden, eight in Denmark, seven in Japan, three in Russia, one In Bel gium, one in Roumania and two in Greece
 Final naturalization papers had been taken out by fifty-five of the foreign born members of the crew, and forty three others had declared their inten- tion of becoming naturalized. Of the nineteen aliens who had not taken any steps whatever to become citizens seven were Japanese. Ambassadors and Min fSterS representing the various cOun- tries, natives of winch were lost on the Maine, have applied to the State De- partment for information concerning them. and have been furnished lists of all the naturaliZed of their respective countries. It has been suggested that Japan, and probably others Of these countries, might unite with the United States in demanding indemnity from Spain in the event it could be demon- strated that the Maine was destroyed by an explosion from outside the ship.
 Thus far, however, none Of them has taken any steps indicating such inten- tion. The Japanese Minister and rep resentatives of some of the other pow CTS have declared there was no diplo- matic significance whatever in their action, but that their Governments were prompted in making their in quiries simply by the interest which they felt in their subjects wherever they may be and their desire to have any indemnity that might be collected reach the families of the dead men. Whether they may yet take some ac- tion will depend on what is done by the United States.
 The question presented Is rather novel, but it is held that the Govern ment has a right to look after its cftf- zens or subjects even though they may be in military or naval service of an alien power, and if they lose their lives through negligence of that power their Government can claim damages. It Is further held that if such aliens lose their lives through the act or negligence of third power indemnity can be collected from such power.
 It is already recognized by the au- thorities here that should it become necessary to make a demand for in- demnity upon Spain the participation of other nations would make it impos- sible for that country to resist the pressure that would be brought to bear upon her. At the same time it is not expected that there will be any such combination or that any country will unite with the United States in demanding indemnity should this country conclude that Spain is in any way responsible for the destruction of the Maine. It is not believed that the fact that some of the men for whom indemnity may be asked are citizens of foreign Governments will influence the nations further than to incline them to give their moral support to the United States in a controversy with Spain if 1t should ensue.