The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-20
GERMANY MAKES A THREAT
TAKES FIRM ATTITUDE ON SEIZURE
 OF HER SHIPS.
Interpolation in the Reichstag Plainly Ansverei-Deman Upon Britain Satisfaction Bue1ow Hopes Such Seiz- ures Wfil Not Rtcur-WouId Lead to
National Complications.

elOw Hopes Such Seiz'
 ures Wiil Not Rscur-WouId Lead to
 National Complications.
 Berlin, Jan. 19.--In the reichstag to-
 day. the debate on Herr Moeller's joint interpolation of the government
 regarding the seizure of German steam
 CTS by British warships was opened
 The minister of foreign affairs, Count | Von Beulow, replied. He declared that Herr Moeller, in his introductory re-
 marks, had justly pointed out the feel
 ing of annoyance which the seizures
 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
 CTS, it would appear possible by means
 of an international agreement to get
 nearer a settlement of the disputed | points of maritime law. At present the
 interpellator is only too justified in saying that the maritime law is still very flexible and elastic; is very defec- | tive, and has numerous gaps, which. in critical moments, are only too often | filled up by the application of naval force. In a word, in the domain of
 maritime law might has by no means
 yet been conquered by right"
 Here Count von Beulow stated that
 he would like an agreement with the other governments concerned to estab- fish rules to govern the seizure of neu-
 tral ships He stated these rules which
 covered all conceivable emergencies in
 case of war.
 Count von Beulow then proceeded:
 "In the present position of practical in-
 ternational law no protest can be sus-
 tained against the arrest of the three
 German steamers, either on the high
 seas or at Alden nor against the exam
 ination of their papers On the other
 hand the conveying of the Bundesrath and Herzog to Durban without ade-
 quately founded suspicion and the dis charge of the cargo and of the Bun- desrath and General do not appear to have been justified by international law. We endeavored at the beginning to induce the British government to adopt in reference to neutral ships bound for Delagoa bay, that theory of international law which promised the greatest security for the trade of neu- trals during the war. Great Britain objected to this theory which holds that the goods on a neutral vessel con-. signed from a neutral port to a neutral port are never contraband. We left the matter open for future discussion, because it was important to us to practically settle the existing points of difference and because the theory is not yet universally recognized. The standpoint which we have adopted in regard to the confscation of our ships is based on this conception of the law, which we assume, coincides with the general interpretation of the civilized world, which may be stated to be as follows:
 We recognize the rights which inter- law actually comedies to bel- lgerents with respect to neutral ships, neutral trade and neutral intercourse. We do not misapprehend the duties which a state of war imposes on neu- tral ship owners and merchants. But | we ask that belligerents shall not ex- tend their powers beyond the limits of 1 absolute necessity and that they shall | respect the inalienable rights and legit- ' innate trade of neutrals and, above all l that they shall exercise the right of | search and the ultimate rights of neu- tral vessels and goods in such way as to meet the necessity for the mainte- nance of neutral trade and the normal relations between friendly, civilized peoples, Taking up this standpoint, we forthwith lodged a strong protest in London against the proceedings of the British naval officers. We demanded:
 "Firstly-The immediate release of he Bundesrath, Herzog and General. The latter two were immediately re- eased on our request and the Bundles 'ath was released yesterday.
 dly-Compensation for the un- justified detention and losses there rom.
 "The duty of compensation has been admitted in principle and Great Britain las declared her readiness to give all egtimate satisfaction.
 ''Thirdly-We laid stress on the ne- essity of instructing the British naval ,fficers not to modest German vessels outside of the vicinity of the seat of var, especially from Alden northwards, | nQ 1Tedl bIlldlH Has gwen llSlTuC- | ions through which the stoppage of essels and the search of vessels will lot be accepted at Alden or a similar distance from the seat of war.
 "Fourthly-We pointed out the high esirability of not stopping German , 1ail steamers, and Great Britain issued lstructions that such vessels shall not , e stopped or searched on mere suspi- ion. These instructions remain in force , ntil other arrangements are reached. r "Fifthly-We have proposed that all ontentions and questions not otherwise ettled shall be submitted to an arbi- ation tribunal to be promptly sum q loned. Great Britain expressed the r ope that arbitration would not be re- r uired, but declared her willingness for T rbitratton in order to assess the f aims for damages. f Finally the British government has a xpressed it's regrets for the incidents f hich have occurred" r This last statement caused loud a aeering in the house. The foreign a mister then said: "We therefore per n it ourselves to expect that such re- r reliable incidents will not be repeat l. We hope the British naval officers ill not again act in an unfriendly man. sr towards our ships. The straight @ rwardness and loyalty of the German l s in owners which has again hean l