Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-10-18
SENATOR STONE TELLS BEL
LIGERENTS TO BE CARE
Full OF OUR RIGHTS.
BOARDED A US. STEAMER
French Cruiser Forced Germans
on Board to Sign
Paroles.

WASHINdToN oct 17-senator
w Stone, chairman Of the foreign
1ci1tons committee, today mado a
speech In the senate warning belliger-
ent nations 10 respect the rights OF
the United States as "a neutral nation.
When we are performing our
duty" he said, "to maintain neu-
tralitN nations involved m war should
bc very careful 10 recognize our rights
and TO keep faith with as. If they
fail to do so, then the responsibility
of violating the rights OF neutral
power viii rest upon their heads
The Missouri senator spoke after
Senator Thomas of Colorado had
read 10 the senate a letter he had
received from K. w Patterson, u
passenger aboard the United Fruit
Compdny's vessel. the Mctapan. The
letter set forth that on october 4, af-
ter the Motapan had changed from
British to American register, she was
halted by the French cruiser Condo
while plying between two Colombian
ports, boarded by the French officers
and five Germans aboard the Meta
pan were compelled to sign paroles
promising not to serve against the
allies. Tho letter stated that an
American consul, who Was ou board,
had filed report Of the incident to
the state department.
No Report Made.
Acting Secretary Lansing said
later, knowing nothing Of the de-
tails Of the incident, he would not
pass judgment on II. other depart
ment officials do not see at present
how the case can come officially be-
fore them unless the managers OF the
steamship line care to make It an
issue.
II the German born passengers
who signed paroles had refused TO do
so ana been removed from the ship,
undoubtedly an issue would have been
presented which. in the opinion Of
some Of the officials, now seem to
be lacking. Had the Germans been
made prisoners by the French. II is
a debatable question as to
whether the French commander was
not entirely within his rights in max
ing the arrests. That he had au-
thority to stop a neutral vessel and
search for contrabrand Is generally
and the only point that re-
mains In doubt is as to the extension
VI llilf duNHbllNN W Ait' - " ~
belligeTent power.
Many times since the outbreak of
the present war British cruisers have
exercised this right and have arrested
and carried to English Jails great
many German roscrvists found IN ncu-
trail ships.
This was true Of Dutch. Spanish
and Swedish vessels and II the gov
ernment to which their owners owe
have made any protests
the fact never has been reported
As pointed out by q state depart
ment official the present war has
had a most revolutionary effect upon
the cardinal doctrines OF International
law: many old principles have been
abandoned and many new ones laid
down. particularly in regard to con-
traband and the rights and duties of
neutrals When the war ends II may
be necessary to rewrite the whole
code of international Law While
these underlying principles are in
such Transient condition, the Of
ficial4 Of the department are unwill-
ing 20 pass upon any Hypothetical
cases and win deal only with actual
such as the stoppaRe OF
the Metapan. when the facts ARE Of
ficinliy laid before them In such
form az to require formal opinion
END action.