Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-06
us. WARSH|PS WILL
ENFORCE NEUTRALITY

To protect the neutrality of American
ports and prohibit the shipment there
from of munitions of war for any be-
ligerentS or the commission of any other
unfriendly act. warships were ordered by
Secretary Daniels to do police work along
the Atlantic coast
The battleship Florida has orders to
watch the German liner Vaderland at New
York until il is determined whether her
load of reservists or munitions of war. if
any are aboard. violates the neutrality
laws. The Florida is 70 maintain general
supervision at the port of New York
other instructions were issued for the
Mayflower at Hampton roads and a num-
Der of torpedo boat destroyers TO keep
similar guard at Boston and other ports
along the New England coast and those
at Lewes. Della. to prevent violation OF
neutrality at Philadelphia or in that ter
ritory. Any vessel attempting to sail
for a belligerent port without clearance
papers will be boarded by American OF
ficialS.
Three battleships now in Mexican
waters-the Texas and Louisiana at Vera
Cruz and the Minnesota at Tampico-
have been ordered to New York, and
Secretary Daniels announced that other
American vessels would be ordered from
there as fast as room could he found
for them at American navy yard docks
Neutrality Difficulties.
The magnitude of the problem II
American neutrality in the interna-
tional war into which Europe has been
plunged. what il may mean in the
future in the international relations o.,
the United States and how great it,
Importance may prove to Americans At
present has been brought sharply 10
the attention of the administration
CT haA tal
that the Presidents proclamation of nel-
trality is observed to the letter. IN
structions were telegraphed to every col
lector of customs throughout the country
to see that it Is observed and that YES
sells clearing from American ports make
out the necessary papers.
To supplement this. orders were sent
to the commander of every revenue cutter
from Eastport, Me, to Seattle, Wash. and
Nome. Alaska, to give every possible as
sstance to the customs officers to avoid
violations of the proclamation. The CUT
ters' cruising grounds cover every mile
from Maine to Galveston and up the Pa
ctic coast.
Smuggling Is Possible.
For the present their officers and men
will act in conjunction with the customs ;
officials in port. If there are reports.
however. of strange expeditions in tie
WlHulTbs VI lidt Sohsl WHITE y
collectors and If smuggling arms Is az
tempted, the cutters will be sent out
patrol duty to search the seas.
The subject of neutrality was discu.s
at a long conference at the Treasury ',=t
evening Secretary McAdoo, Counse 'lr
Lansing of the State Department ~
Assistant Secretaries Sweet of CONNER.
Roosevelt of the Navy. Malburn ard
Newton of the Treasury We're present
1t became apparent as the discussion
progressed that the problem of neutraitF
is one of the most vexing facing this eo,
eminent.
Within a few weeks the wheat crup.
much of which goes normally to Europ-.
will be at the eaports clamoring for
ships and passage. American owners
will be anxious TO sell. and no one doubts
that some of the belligerents will wish
to buy Whether wheat Will be contra
band of war and whether the United
States as a neutral can permit ii To he
loaded for shipment to nation at war
is question.
Wheat is only one of the many things
which Europe usually takes from this
nation which may be regarded as contra
band There is some question even as
to whether gold is free from the ban. a
One difficulty in the way of a solution
of the problem is that none of the fight
ing nations has defined what il considers
contra band and no international Law is
clear on the point