The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-20
Won BUELOw's STATEMENT



BERLIN, Jan. 19.-In the Reichstag to-
| day the debate on Herr Moeller's Joint in
| terpellation of the government regarding
| the seizure of the German steamers by
| the British warships was opened. Herr
| Moeller said vigorous expressions must be
given to the indignation felt at the fact
that the subsidized line to which the ves-
| sci belonged had observed the strictest
| neutrality and expressed the opinion that
the matter should furnish the opportunity
of defining the rights of mail steamers.
| the unloading of the Bundesrath, he
| added. could have been effected within a
few days. The delay showed want of con-
sideration for international courtesy, and
| 1t should be made incumbent on the Brit
| ish officials to announce where and to what
| extent their views in regard to the rights
| of mail steamers had been changed. The
| action, the speaker continued, appeared
| arbitrary, and it was Germany's duty to
| demand security for her ships in the future
| from all maritime nations. Germany was
so neutral that even her arms factory had
been prohibited from supplying the belliger-
ents. The present case afforded rare
| spectacle of the unity Of all parties. Eng
| lishmen should take care not to draw on
| themselves the hatred of the civilized
| world. This statement was greeted with
| loud cheers.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count
| Won Buelow, replied. He declared that
Herr Moeller, in his Introductory remarks,
had justly pointed out the feeling of an
noyance which the seizure of German
| steamers by British war vessels had
aroused throughout Germany, and con-
| tinued:
| THE German Empire will not withhold
its concurrence and support If, with the
cooperation of the other powers it would
| appear possible, by means of an interna-
tlonai agreement. to get nearer a settle
| ment of the disputed points of maritime
law. AT present, the Interpolation Is only
too justified in saying that the maritime
| law is still very flexible and elastic is
| very defective and has numerous gaps
| which, in critical moments are only too
often filled up by the application of naval
force would like an agreement with
the other governments concerned to es-
tablish the following rules:
| f1rst-Neutral merchant vessels on the
| nlgn seas or In the territorial waters of
belligerents shall. apart from the right of
| convoy, which is not raised in the present
case, be subject to the right Of search by
| the warships of belligerents
| ''Second-The right of search shall be
exercised with as much leniency as pos
| sible.
Il
requested to STOP refuse to do so, or on
an examination of her papers disclose ir-
regularities, or should the presence of con-
| traband be established, the neutral NAV
be seized and delivered to a competent
prize court.
| 'Fourth-The term contraband shall in
clude only goods or persons suitable for
| use in war and intended for one of the
| belligerents. What kind of goods come
| under this heading is a matter for dis
cussion
| .Eriftb-Apx oontrah,rd a;soouoros a.
| be liable TO confiscation. Whether with
| or without compensation depends on the
particular circumstances.
| 'SiXth-If the arrest OF ship is unjusti-
| fed, the belligerent shall be bound TO re-
lease both the ship and cargo without de-
| lay and pay full indemnity for the dam
age and injury sustained"
| Count Won Buelow proceeded:
| "We recognize the rights which interna-
| tional law actually gives to belligerent
| In respect to neutral ships, neutral trade
| and neutral intercourse. We do not misap-
prehend the duties which state of war
| imposes on neutral ship owners and mer-
| chants, but we ask that belligerents shall
| not extend their powers beyond the limits
of actual necessity and that they shall
| respect the alienable rights and legitimate
| trade of neutrals, and, above all, that
| they shall exercise the right OF search and
| the ultimate capture of neutral vessels
| and goods in such way to meet the
| necessity for the maintenance of neu-
| trail trade ard the normal reia-
tions between friendly. civilized peo-
| pies. Taking up this standpoint, we forth
with lodged strong protest in London
| against the proceedings OF the British ma
| val officers. We demanded:
| 'First-The immediate release of the
| Bundesrath. Herzog and General The lat
/ ter two were Immediately released on our
request and the Bundesrath was released
yesterday.
'Second-Compensation for the untusti
| fed detention and losses therefrom
| "Third-We laid stress on the necessity
| OF instructing the British naval officers
| not TO molest German vessels outside of
the vicinity Of the seat of war; especially
| from Alden northward. and Great Britain
| has given instructions through which the
| stoppage OF vessels and search of vessels
] will not be exercised at Alden or a similar
1 distance from the seat of war.
"Fourth-We pointed out the high desir-
ability OF not stepping German mail steam