New-York tribune., 1901-07-30
LA WS GOVERNING VESSELS.
BELIEF THAT COLOMBIAN AJ-THoRI.
TIES ACTED WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUxE.I


Washington. July 29-No official information
regarding the arrest by the Colombian authori-
ties at Cartagena. board the Hamburg
American steamer. has reached Washington al
though the alarming news dispatches awakened
interest In the State Department and among the
Spanish-American legations. the supposition
that the German Emperor would undertake to
call the Colombian authorities to account Had
the Allegheny been under the American French
or any other than the German flag in any other
than South American port the incident would
be regarded as unworthy Of notice for the estab-
lished principles of international law governing
the status OF a merchant vessel in port are too
well recognized by maritime nations to excite
interest.
The extraterritoriality of a national warship
is usually respected. but foreign merchant
vessel of whatever nationality is subject to the
laws of any port she happens To visit and can
not afford refuge for citizen of her own
nationality, not 10 mention citizen of the
nation in whose jurisdiction the vessel is tenn
porarily found. The United States has never
failed to enforce this principle in her ports
against German vessels those of other ma
tionalities TO respect it in foreign ports. in
Guiding those OF South America. Great Britain
has frequently opposed the principle. declaring
that English law and not international law gov
erned British ships wherever they went. but the
United States has paid no attention to the con-
tention. and the New-York police are supported
in searching any British ship in New-York
Harbor.
At the state Department the Murrillo affair
is. therefore, looked upon with unconcern. and
unless il can be shown that Colombian authori-
ties have insulted the German flag. it is thought
the matter will be passed in silence by Ger
many
STATEMENT BY SENIOR HERRAN.
Tomas Herran. Secretary of Legation of the
Colombian Republic. looks upon the story of the
dramatic capture of Murrillo. wrapped in
German flag as unlikely to give rise to any
serious international question. and that at the
most an investigation might result in an apology
to Germany If the facts stated are authentic
In discussing the report of the incident, Senior
Herran said
The legation has not received a word from
Bogota which confirms or denies these reports
There are foreigners at many cities along the
Magdalcna River and all the principal seaports
who constantly keep me informed on Coiomri . y
matters of any Importance. but have not had
even a runlor supporting the remat Aaoie a.
counts of the Alegheny's passengers l nave
telegraphed to the Colombian Consul at New
York 10 furnish me with full particulars, ana
by tomorrow perhaps l shall have definite re-
port of the affair.
The fact that the Allegheny within the
legal limits. and Furthermore that she was tled
to a wharf at Cartagena. relieves Colombia OF
any serious international difficulty. II Murriilo
had offended the government in any way anu
was criminal the chief Of police certainly had
a right to demand his deliverance from the cap
tain and crew of any foreign vessel. Although
the Allegheny Is mail steamer Hying the Ger
man flag, she does not possess the prerosative
of man of Murrillo's arrest was prob
ably brought about by overzeaious petty off,
cials I'm Cartagena who had an idea that Tribe S
representative was in a scheme 10 humbug the
government. But cannot believe that the man
has been will be unjustly treated because
Governor j. F. Velez, OF the Province OF the
State Of Bolivar of which CartagenA is the
capital. would not permit any foreigner or ma
tive to be held unless some offence had been
committed Governor Veez is one of the most
prominent men in the ranublc. He has held a
Cabinet portfolio ana otner hign positions and
for several years the Delegate from Co
lombia to the Vatican. which office he resigned
to become Governor OF his native State. He has
led noble career and done q great deal of sood