New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-01
BRITAIN PROTESTS
GERMAN ship DEAL
Joins France and Russia
in Asking u. S. Not to
Buy KaiSer's Liners.
URGES PURCHASE
OF NEUTRAL CRAFT
State Department Aids British
Officials in Organizing Eng
Iish Prize Courts.

Washington, Aug. 31.-Great Britain
France and Russia have advised the
United States informally that they
would look with disfavor on the pur-
chase by this government OF German
merchant steamers to relieve condi-
tions growing out Of the European war
and also to build up an American mer-
chant marine. While not conveyed In
any diplomatic correspondence, thelF
position, nevertheless, has been vigor-
ously set forth to President wilson
and Secretary Bryan.
France took the initiative, Amoassa-
dor Jusserand carrying his obJectlons
to President Wilson in his recent inter-
view at the White House. George
Bakhmeteff, the Aussian. Ambassador,
conferred with the British and French
ambassadors to-day and later saw Sec
retary Bryan. All three diplomats held
that there was no precedent in interna-
tional law for the purchase by neu-
trail nation Of any great quantity OF
ships from belligerent
The chief objection urged IS that
the transaction would establish a large
gold credit in the hands of Germany
The diplomats point out that the Ger
man steamship companies are closely
affiliated with the German government
and that to buy their ships now ma
rooned in American ports would be
tantamount to furnishing Germany
with a large loan.
Crews Would Create Problem.
Should the American government
distribute its purchases OF shlps
equally among the belligerent nations,
they do not believe there would be ODD
lection from any quarter, CONSIDER.
able difficulty would arise, however, IL
is asserted, if, for instance, the crew
of a German vessel purchased by tne
United States were maintained on IL,
as the British and French governments
would not allow the nationals OF any
belIigerent to land from neutral ships
at their ports. -,
Aside from the question of possible
financial aid to Germany and comph-
cationg over the crews of the vessels,
tbe Furopean diplomats who are OPP
posed 10 the plan believe difficulties
would arise with reference to the car
goes of the American ships. Their et'
fort in the present war has been to
sweep German commerce from the seas,
and they look upon any means 10 SUP
ply food to Germany or Austria as an
unneutraI act.
Administration officials here have
declared that the new ships would
carry only articles which were speeiii-
cally defined as not contraband of war,
but it is the belief of the diplomats
that their governments would object
even to conditional contraband, thus
restricting considerably any commerce
with belligerents.
Favor American Enterprise.
The European diplomats have en-
deavored to point out that they. desire
in no way to interfere with the up
building Of an American merchant ma
rine and wish il success in neutral
countries, but they think the Ameri-
can governments ships could not be
made available for commerce with the
belligerent countries Of Europe.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau
British Embassy officials are in con-
slant communication with the State De-
partment, with a view to eXpediting the
organization of English prize courts
and simplifying the machinery for their
operation. Sir Cecil Spring Rice called
at the War Department to-day in this
connection, it is understood.
The British government is anxious
to have the courts begin sittings, so
that neutral commerce, which may be
part of the cargo of prizes, may be re-
stored promptly to its legal owners.
In cases Of capture at sea, according
to international law, it becomes the
first duty Of the captor to convey the
prize to a port Of it's own or one of its
allies for adjudication by special tri-
bunals, which may sit in the ports or
territory of a belligerent or in those of
an ally, but not in neutral ports.
The function of these courts is solely
to determine whether the capture was
legally made. In arriving at decisions
the stipulations of treaties are obliga-
tory upon the nations which have
agreed to them, and prize courts are
| bound to respect these treaties in set
Ting controversies between the sub
! jects or citizens of signatory powers.
The second Hague peace conference
provided for tribunal of appeal in
prize cases.