Middletown transcript., 1909-12-04
WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON, D. O., NovEMBER 27, 1909
THE Washington diplomatic circle is tc
lose neither Ambassador James Bryce
from Great Britain nor Count Won Bern
stoEh, the German Ambassador to tbs
United States. The rumors that these
two distinguished diplomatic were to be re.
moved frcm Washington are utterly with
out foundation and she announcement that
they are TO remain in their present posi-.
tions is a eource Of qualification to their
friends in official life. Reports we're in
circulation that Ambassador Bryce was
to be recalled and that his successor was
TO be Sir Maurice De Bunsen, British
Ambassador to Spain. These reports are
not credited at the State Department..
Rumor also had il that Count Won Bern
sGorff was to be made German Ambassa.
dor to London in order that he might
further the efforts made by his predeees-
sors to bring about entirely friendly
relations between Germany and England.
Il is true that Emperor William regards
she work done by Count Won Bernstorff
in America as highly satisfactory, but the
State Department is confident that he
will be left here to carry on that work.
~.
Every bushel of wheat, practically
every interstate railroad aud every grain
shipper in the middle west is affected by
an order just issued by the Interstate
Commerce Commission postponiDg the
effective date OF the Commissions order
in what are known as the Peavey eleva-
tor cases. Several dates were fixed by
she Commission for it order to become
effective but for various reasons it has
been postponed until April lst, 1910, in
order that the Eighth Circuit Court
N ght have opportunity to hear the cases.
The suit was instituted to rescind the
order OF the Commission prohibiting pay.
ments for elevation Of wheat under the
Peavey contract with certain railroads.
The Commission joins with the grain
shippers in a desire to obtain a Judicial
opinion OF the question underlying the
Commissions original oTd-r. TIE effect
of the order was 70 prevent the railroads
from paying II cents hundred pounds
for the elevation of wheat to any person
or corporation engaged in the buying,
selling or shipment OF grain. This order
interfered seriously with contracts that
Peavey and Company had with western
railroads at Minneapolis, ST. Paul, Omaha
and other cities in the middle west. 1t
is expected that a judicial determination
Of the cases may be reached by April LIST.
~
Secretary Knox is determined to pro.
ceed with caution and with due regard |
for justice in his treatment OF President |
ZsIaya OF Nicaragua. He ls restraining
the more impetuous Of bis assistants from |
rushing an attack on the Nicaraguan
president by insisting that the full facts
as TO the execution OF the two Americans
be ascertained before definite action is |
taken. One point remains to be deter
mined. If the two Americans we're
members of the revolutionary army and |
we're acting under the orders OF their |
superiors when they planted the mines
in the San Juan river, Z=Iaya is guilty Of !
3 serious breach OF international law and
the rules which govern military warfare. |
II on the other hand, the two Americans
we're setting on their own responsibility,
az individuals, Zeiaya is thought to have
beeu justified in ordering their summary
execution. Que of the most eminent
authorities on international Law in the
Army explained the attitude OF the State
Department. to-day. ''The international
laws Of neutrality" he said, "are framed
to prevent flibustering. If men in fill
clustering expeditions are captured they
should be returned to their own govern.
ments for trial. The United States is
not always able to prevent some of it's
citizens from joining the military forces
OF another country, whether these forces
be governmental or revolutionary. II
the two men, as appears in this case,
allied themselves with either 8 regular
or revolutionary army, and were acting
under the direction of their superior
officers they GUuld be taken prisoners and
tried by a military court. But no court
acting within the lines of the Hague
agreement could sentence man, native
or foreign, to death unless be was proved
TO be spy or was acting independently
Of any military organization.
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