The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-18
Senator stone Protests Search
Of American ship by the
Condos Officers.
WARNS NATIONS TO STOP

Patterson wrote TO both the Colorado
Senators that the ship. an American YES
sell flying the American flag was boarded
by two French officers and two French
sailors from the Condo. French war
vessel, ON sunday, october 4. between
Cartageua ana Puerto Colombia that the
French officers examined the ships papers
with the permission OF without the protest
Of the captain Of the MetapaH, a British
ofncer.
The letter charged that all of the pas
sengers Ner' ordered INTO the dining room
ana examined and that FIVE young Ger
mans on board the Metaqln We're held and
required to sign a paro.e bofor" they
would be- permitted TO have their liberty
In the parole they agreed that they would
not take up arms for Germany In the war
against France
warning 10 Nations.
Senator Thomas read the letter "a tho
Senate IN the midst Of profound silence
and spoke highly OF the character Of the
man who had written o.. Later Senator
stone, Tho IL chairman Of the Foreign
Relations Committee. uttered a solemn
warning against any violation % the neu-
trality Il the United States by beii!ger-
cn' nations
when We are performing our duty to
ma.ntllu neutrality, nations involved in
war should b. careful 20 recognize our
rights and 90 keep faith with US or the
responsibility will rest upon their own
heads said Senator stone.
The Mctapdn. which was United
Fruit Company steamship. was formerly
under British charter but came under
America registry since the European
war began under the legislation recently
passed by Congress. She was still
manned and o'icered by British when
she was iammed and beached IN New
York harbor.
Mr. Patterson complains that the
British officer offered no resistance 10 the
action OF the French officers and sailors
In addition to writing TO both Senators
from Colorado. Mr.. Patterson intends to
.odge a formal protest with the state De-
par'mcnt
In submitting the matter TO the Senate
Senator Thomas demanded that the State
Department should investigate the facts
and II Mr. Patterson's statement were
borne out. a vigorous protest should be
lodged with the French Government
The Patterson letter was In part as
follows
This is an American vessel Aging the
American flag on Sunday. the ith
instan,, between Cartagena and Puerto
Columbia. At 10 80 4 VI. this ship was
boarded by two French officers and two
armed sailors from the French war vessel
the Condo, who though the Captain,
after having examined the ships papers.
'iN'a'H ~ Wv ilo7'll '.lS lllAN lllf l4llliB
room
"tf'er some ten minutes all were per-
united to leave the dining room except
i've young Germans who were held i'm
prisoned and each compelled TO sign d
parole, in order to gain their liberty.
binding them not TO engage with Germany
in this war against France.
After those young Germans had signed
this parole the French officer and armed
sailors departed from the Me,apan to the
Condo, which had stood by during this
search and seizure. The Metapan was
held for two ard a half hours or more
This vessel has been recently trans
t'rred from British snip to on American
ship with the other vessels OF United Frui,
Company This II her first voyage as an
American ship. The captain and all the
officers. save tho physician and third off,
Ger are British subjects. The captain did
not protest so far "a ] could see or hear.
lie admitted 10 the American Consul at
Barranquilla, Isaac Manning, that he did
not protest ! witnessed the entire pro-
ceedlng as herein rccited
Didn't Know His Rights.
~ called the captain ~ account forwar "a
and ne claimed b" dd not know whether
the Condo had right to imprison and
take Off his ship these nv" Germans said
NJ could not find out until he arrived ia
New York. n" said he would know his
rights and duties II this were "A British
ship. / told him that there was but one
International law for British and Ameri-
car ships
81 said to him: The next warshIp may
he a German warship. II the Condo has
right 70 take Germans of an American
ship upon the high seas, sailing between
neutral ports, the German warship has
the right 10 take you and your English
crew from the Metapan.'
Here was an outrage committed on
American soil under the American flag by
the Condo The passengers were All prsc-
uca.ly Imprisoned on an American shin
BY French officers NJ war
These are the facts AZ ! know them
Ny sympathies are wholly with Great
Britain and France in this uncivilized war
am as much opposed TO the Kaiser and
the German military government a. arI
Englishman or Frenchmau. But this Is
no, her" or there. | am first of all an
American ! am first of all for justice
and right These Germans were entitled
10 the protection OF the American flag
~ captain VINO submits without protes,
TO such q violation Of the neutrality rights
foam American ship under his command
ought not 10 be- permitted TO command
Of an American ship under his command
officers with alacrity, most cheerful
willingness can upon the United Fruit
Company for his discharge - my sug,
geSt,on.'
Senator Stone In addressing the Scnat,
upon the incident said
- think It IL an Opportune time 10 say
that beligerent Powers II they care for
the regard and friendship Of this republi,
do themselves recognize ana strictly Oh.
serve the rights and privileges of a neu.
trail Power. When we are perform!nl
our duty. delicate and difficult as IL Is
with am oye to maintaining our position
as q great neutral Power, nations involved
in war should be- very careful to rccognlz,
uor rights and keep faith with us.
'lt they fail 10 do 50, then the responsi
bilty ~ violating the right Of neutra
Government Will rest upon their heads
The Government Of the United States vii
maintain it's position, but II is well fol
other nations 10 knew that We will MOI
look with Indifference upon a violation o.
n" rights Of our own Government or oul
own people"
The state Department refused 10 re-
excited over the Metapau incident. II wa,
said there that no complaint mad beei
received NJ 'ne state Department through
any tlaUt 81.
t was said HIrttcr that so far as IN,
letter Of senator Thomas's Informant
shows there is no evidence ~ the viola
ti10 e any riGA: 80 vess, under N,
American nag. BellIrercnts are accorded
g. night of ,toppage and visitation on tn,
aiRh seas.
II, as reported, the five Germans wcr,
..# p. Mo-