Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-25
WILSON DECLARES
j. S. IS NEUTRAL
President Issues Proclamation
Anent Japanese-German
War in Orient.
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
BUY BELLIGERENT SHIPS
French International Law Expert
Says Precedent Prohibits Ac-
QUESTION Of German Vessels.

President Wilson today issued a procia-
nation declaring the United States neu-
trail in the war between Germany and
Japan.
Regarding the principles of information
al law concerning contraband blockade
the rights of neutral shipping and the
obligation upon neutrals to maintain
strict impartiality in their treatment OF
the war and commercial ships of belllg-
erents, it is the purpose of the British
government and, it is understood. of the
other belligerents. to request such neu-
trail powers as the United States to deal
with each question involving the appli-
cation Of neutrality. as a distinct Legal
proposition.
This would eliminate the diplomatic
treatment of such questions and soon
would result in standard and uniiorm
method of dealing with these delcate
and difficult questions which would not
be subject to challenge by any FAIR
minded belligerent.
England and France Agree.
Great Britain and France already have
signified their purpose to abide by the
declarations of London as affecting their
rights and that of neutral nations our-
ing the present war. Notwithstanding the
fact that their formal assent to these
declarations have not yet been re-
ported. r,+;-
fed the declarations in treaty 1orH' puI
has withheld their PRONUNCIATION because
of the failure of the great Europeai,
s.u,o,, 81 oons11mmate the international
agreement.
IF is the British view that these dec
larations would not prevent the l!ans
fer of merchant ships under oelnseI-
ent flags to the American mercanlile
marine under the provision of the new
registry law, providing the transfers
are bona fide and there is no lntentlon
to use the vessels for the beneht OF
the belligerent state nor TO return
them to foreign ownership at the con-
clusion of hostilities.
Wilson Thinks It Legal.
No opposition to the proposed govern
ment purchase of foreign-bu1it mer-
chant steamers has come from the bel
ligerent nations of Europe 1t was an
nounced today at the White House, and
none is expected by administration ON
cials. The President believes the plan
entirely in conformity with interna-
tional law since no contraband freight
will be carried aboard the ships.
Bars Buying Belligerents' Ships.
PARIS, August 25.-Edouard Clunet.
former president of the Institute OF
Law, has made known
the result of an examination he has
made into the question of the right of
Americans to buy German steamers
now in refuge in American ports.
The French law, M. Clunet found, SINCE
trails, to buy ships of belligerents after
hostiIities have begun. Numerous French
and also British prize court decisions to
this effect are cited.
France and Great Britain together, 1t
is claimed the authorities examined show
ed, had refused to recognize the sale OF
Russian ships after a war had begun
and the declaration of London, signed
in 1909 by Germany. Austria, France
Great Britain, Japan and Russia, forbids
such sales.
An opinion along this line by Rear Ad-
miral Charles II. Stockton, U. S. N, is
cited by NJ. Clunet.
"It would be a violation of neutrality"
NJ. Clunet argues, for the United States
to permit idle property of uncertain value
to be transformed into cash, which would
be unseizable and of immediate value to a
belligerent.'
Considering the Alexander Bill.
The House today has before it the
Alexander bill to create thirty million
dollar merchant marine; and also the
resolution to bring in a rule to make
privileged the war risk insurance bureau
bill. At the same time members of the
naval affairs committee are busy with
the draft of substitute for or amend
ments to the Alexander shipping bill.
The Alexander merchant marine bill is
based on the theory that the government
can work the thing better through the
medium of a so-called private corpora
ton" than by owning outright fleet of
merchant vessels Therefore the bill es-
tablishes a shipping board composed
of the Secretary of the Treasury, Post
master General and Secretary Of Com
merce.
The board is to represent the interest
Of the United States government in the
voting of stock of the ten-million-dollar
ship-owning corporation. of which the
United States is to own 81 per cent. The
public is to subscribe to the other 49
per cent, but the corporation may do
business as soon as 81 per cent of the
stock is subscribed for.
Plans as Proposed.
The United States is empowered to sell
$50, ,OOO, 600 worth of Panama canal bonds
and buy merchant vessels with the pro-
ceeds. These vessels will be in turn sold
to the private corporation which is to
pay for them by gold bonds at per
cent interest The ships this bought are
not to engage in American coastwise
trade.
The proposal which will be made by
the naval affairs committee. it is possible,
will be that the Panama Railway Com
pany be the corporation empowered to
operate the ships: and. Furthermore. it is
likely an effort will be made to limit the
operations of the proposed fleet to South
American and Central American ports.
Petitioning Congress to "act vigorously
against a continuation of the mad car
mage now soaking Europe with blood,
the labor council of greater New York
urged legislation TO prevent expectation
of any commodities to the belligerent ma
tions until they cease fighting and submit
10 arbitration. Vice President Marshall
submitted the petition to the Senate.
FRANCIS JOSEPH NEAR DEATH.