The Washington herald., 1914-09-03
LANSINGSAYSU.S.
MAY BUY Ships
State Department Counselor
Ayers Purchase by This
Country Is Legal.
DEAL MUST BE BONA FIDE
Tells House Committee on Naval Az
fairs He Does Not Believe Neu-
trality Will Be Endangered.
MUST BE BONA FIDE

n this country can show that the pur-
chase by the government OF merchant
ships Of Germany is bona hde. Robert
Lansing. counselor Of the State Depart
msnt, believes this government can dis
regard the protest Of nations in the triple
entents without jeopardIEing its neu-
tralitys
Mr.. Lansing appeared yesterday before
the House Committee on Naval Affairs
He said that for the government itself TO
own ships and operate them In trade,
however. would present a question in
diplomacy for which there 10 no preee-
dent He pointed out that II must be
obvious to any one that the beIligersnts
would be bound to protest II q govern
ment-owned ship carried contrRband or
conditional eontrRbsnd OF war,
While Mr.. Lansing did not specifically
mention the ships in question, he gave 1t
would be acting within its legal rights II
It purchased the German liners now tied
up in New York Harbor.
Counsellor Lansing was called before
the committee to testify concerning the
bill authorizing the building OF naval
auxiliaries. such auxiliaries to be used
for trading purposes in time OF war in
the discretion OF the President
You think. then" suggested Repre-
sentative Roberts. Of Massachusetts,,
that II would be a rather tickllsh thing
for this government to send a govern
ment-oXned ship into a foreign port?'
That Is my personal view," replied Mr..
Lansing Il would not say that is the
view of the department"
Views Apply 10 European Trade.
Counselor Lansing said his views as
to the hazard OF conducting government
trade. He did not think any dificulty
would follow the operation Of govern
ment-owned vessels between the United
States and ports in Central and South
America.
Replying 10 q question whether he
thought Il was the duty OF the government
to investigate all shipments made in order
to determine whether or not they are,
eventually. in trans-shipment going to a
belligerent, Counselor Lansing made this
statement
The restrictions on normal trade which
are imposed on neutrals in time of war
are for the benefit of beligerents. and
therefore should be strictly construed
against the belligerents. So far as the
duties Of neutrals are concerned, a neu-
tral Is entitled to take the line OF least
resistance-that is, he is not bound to
make burdensome Investigations or to
go further than IL absolutely necessary
to conform to what is recognized as the
accepted rules Of international Law in
the matter Of neutrality"
A question asked by Representative Tai
bott directly bears on the proposal that
the United States purchase the German
liners lying at anchor in New York Har-
Dor. Mr.. Talbot put his question in this
form:
IF German merchant ships were pur-
chased by US and the purchase money
went into the German treasury, how
would that be considered by the French
government, the English government. or
the Russian government"
To this Counselor Lansing replied:
The question OF the transfer of ves-
sells. l think, really rests on two condi-
tons. II We can show that Il Is q bona
fide purchase, and in the second place.
that II is not done TO avoid capture.
believe the transfer can be made"