South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-21
COMPLETE RULES
FOR REGULATING
TRAFFIC ON SEA
Wide Latitude is Allowed Mer-
chant Vessels in Carrying
Fuel and Other Naval Sup
plies to BeIIigerent Ports.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 21.-Complete
detailed regulations governing the
status OF armed merchant vessels in
American ports and merchant vessels
suspected Of carrying supplies 10 belli-
gerent warships have been framed by
the state department. approved by
Pres. Wilson and forwarded 20 Great
Britain and other nations at war.
Under the regulations wide latitude
IS allowed merchant vessels In carry
ing fuel and other naval supplies to
the naval bases or ports Of belliger-
ents. Merchant ships laden with coal
or other supplies for Great Britain
Germany France or any Of the belli-
gerents will not be detained by the
United States.
The regulations were framed after
several conferences with Sir Cecil
Spring-Bice the British ambassador
and under the present control of the
seas by the allies viii be OF great
advantage 20 them iR securing sup
plies from this country
Suspicion that a merchant vessel
intends 10 carry eel OF other supplies
10 a beligerent warship on the high
seas will result i'm it's detention for
further investigation in the following
circumstances:
Reasons for Investigation.
When a belligerent warship is
known to be off the port at which
the MERCHANT ship is taking cargo;
when the merchant IS OF the national
ity OF belhgerent spoken off the
coast: when a merchant vessels fails
TO have on board at the port OF ar
rival. cargo consisting Of naval sup
plies taken for a. voyose between the
porJs Of the United States or other
neutral ports and seeks a similar car
go; when coal or other supplies are
purchased by an agent Of a belliger-
ent government and the vessel clears
for a neutral port instead Of TO "A
port OF the belligerent. and when an
agent OF a belligerent is taken board,
the vessel cleared for "A neutral port
and carrying fuel or other navl sup
plies
Under the rules merchant vessel
whiclff cleats'ste tho United States to
the port OF n neutral and there dis
charges a cargo OF naval supplies
should not Toe detained if ON second
voyage it takes on cargo OF a similar
nature.
In such case" the regulations
state, 1.-The port OF the other neutral
nation may be a base for the naval
operations of a belligerent. If so. and
even III the fact is notorious. this gov
eminent is under no obligations to
prevent the shipment of naval sup
plies to that port The duty of pre-
venting an unneutral act rests en-
tirely upon the neutral state whose
territory is being used as such a
base"
u. s. Not Responsible.
The regulations also hold that If the
supplies were shipped directly to an
established naval base in the territory
OF the belligerent. this government
would not be obligated by its neutral
duty TO limit such shipments or de-
tain or otherwise interfere with the
merchant vessels engaged in that
trade.
"A neutral the regulations con
tinue. can only be charged with un-
neutral conduct when the supplies
furnished TO a belligerent warship are
furnished directly to- 1t in "a port of
the neutral or through naval tenders
or merchant vessels acting as tenders
departing from such port -
The1 feetfltt3ieus t4eeffHit merchant
vessels of a belligeTent TO carry arms
for the sole purpose of defense. The
type of the armament amount Of
ammunition on board. character Of the
crew and speed Of the vessels will be
used in determining whether the arms
carried are for defense only