The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-20
OVER SEIZURE OF SHIPS
ENGLAND EXPRESSES REGRETS
FOR INCIDENTS.
Circumstances Under Which Vessels
May Be Searched For Contraband
--Arbitrators May Be Appointed
to Settle Disputes That May Arise
Question Of Indemnity.

4 ~e~-AANAo ~ lllE DA1NlGA4 hclA GAI- ~ ff-As
opened Herr Moener said vigorous
expression must be given to the indig-
nation felt at the fact that the sub
1 sidized line, to which the vessel be-
/ longed, should observe the strictest
/ neutrality, and expressed the opinion
I that the matter should furnish the OPP
portunlty of defining the rights of mail
! steamers.
+ The unloading of the Bundesrath, he
added, could have been affected in a
Few days. The delay showed want OF
consideration for international cOur-
tesy, and it should be made incumbent
on the British officials to announce
whether 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 Ger
many's duty to demand security for her
ships IN the future from all maritime
nations. Germany was so neutral that
even her arms factories had been pro-
hibited from supplying the beliigerents.
The present case afforded a rare spec
tacle of the unity of all parties. Great
Britain had not always maintained the
neutrality marking Germany's present
attitude, and Englishmen should take
care not to draw on themselves the
hatred of the civilized world. This
statement was greeted with loud cheers.
Won Buelow Explains.
The minister of the foreign affairs,
Count Won Buelow, replied. He declared
that Herr Moeller. in his Introductory
remarks, had justly pointed out the
feeling Of annoyance which the seiz-
ure of German steamers by British
war vessels had aroused throughout
Germany. and continued
The German empire will not with
hold its concurrence and support, if
with the cooperation Of the other pow
ers, 1t would appear possible by means
of an international agreement TO get
nearer settlement of the disputed
points of maritime law. At present
the interpolation is only too justified in
saying the maritime law is still very
flexible and elastic. is very defective,
and has numerous gaps which, in criti-
cal moments, are only too often filled
up by the application of naval force.
would like an agreement with the other
governments concerned to establish
the following rules:
Rules Are Suggested.
Firstly-Neutral merchant vessels
on the high 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.
"Secondly-The right Of search shall
be exercised with as much leniency as
possible.
"Thirdly-should neutral ship,
when requested to stop, refuse to do
so, or an examination of her papers
disclose irregularities. should the pres
ence of contraband be established, a
neutral may be seized and delivered to
a competent prize court.
"Fourthly-The term eOntraband
shall include 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 discussion.
''F'ifthly-Any contra band discovered
TO be liable to c0nfscatiOn. whether
with or without compensation, depends
on the particular circumstances.
"Sixthly-Tf the arrest of a ship is
unjHstifiable the belligerent shall be
bound to release both the shin and
cargo without delay and pay full in
demnity for the damage ana injury
sustained"
Rights Of Belligerents.
Count Won Buelow proceeded: we
recognize the rights which information
al law actually gives 10 belligerents in
respect TO neutral ships, neutral trade
and neutral intercourse. We don't mis-
apprchend the duties which q state of
war imposes on neutral ship owners
and merchants, but we ask that bel
iiserents shall not extend their powers
beyond the limits Of absolute neces-
sity. and that they shall respect the
inalienable 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 as to meet the
necessity for the maintenance Of neu-
tral trade and the normal relations be-
tween friendly. civilized peoples
Taking up this standpoint. we forth
with lodged a strong protest in London
against the proceedings of the British
naval officers
Demands of Germany.
I'VE demanded. first. the immediate
release Of the Bundesrath HerZOg and
General. The latter two were immedi-
ately released on our request and the
BundesTath was released yesterday.
Secondly, compensation for the I'M
justified detention and losses theTefrOm.
The duty OF compensation has been ad-
mitted in principle. and Great Britain
has declared her readiness to give all
legitimate satisfaction.
Thirdly. we laid stress on the ne
cessity Of inStruetiDs the British naval
officers not to modest German vessels
outside of the vicinity of the seat of
war, especially from Aeon northward,
and Great Britain has given instruc-
tons through which the stoppage Of
vessels and the search of vessels viii
not be exercised at Alden or similar
distance FROM the seat Of war
Exclude Mail Steamers.
"Fourthly. we pointed out the high
desirability of not stopping German
mail steamers. and Great Britain is
sued Instructions that such vessels
shall hot be stopped or searched on
Tere suspicion. These instructions re-
main in force until other arrangements
are reached.
Filthy. we have proposed that all
contentious ard questions not otherwise
settled shall be submitted to an arbi-
tration tribunal to be promptly sum-
moned. Great Britain expresses the
hope that arbitrator would not be re-
quired, but declared her Willingness
for arbitration in order to assess the
claims for damages.
Finally, the British government has
expressed its regret for the incidents
which have occurred"
This last statement caused loud
cheers in the house.
Count Won Buelow, in conclusion, said
Germany would maintain friendly re-
lations with Great Britain, but the
government hoped that such Incidents
would not recur. making it impossible
for the good relations to continue.
Another Ship Seized.
Lourenz0 Marquee, Thursday, Jan. is.
The German bark Marie, from Aus