Evening star., 1914-12-27
NO FORMAL NOTICE
Of GERMAN ACTION
Reported Requirement of New
Exequaturs for U. S. Con-
suIs in Belgium. ::
POINTS INVOLVED RATED
AS OF DELICATE NATURE
Status of Minister Whitlock Settled
by President Wilson-American
Government to Move Slowly.

Up to late hour last night Ger
many had not notified the United States
that American consuls. originally ac-
credited to Belgium, would be required
to furnish new eXequaturs, or certif-
Gates of authority. as has been unofficial
ly reported to the American govern
ment.
The American government will not de-
eide on a course of action until such
notice has been served and its form ex-
amined, according to high administra-
tion officials.
Officials here regard the points in
volved as of very delicate nature and
would say only that tney wou.d study
precedents carefully before reaching a
decision
In reply to question recently as to
the status of Brand Whitlock, President
Wilson replied that the latter would, of
course, remain American minister to
Belgium, even though he left the coun-
try Indefinitely. Mr.. Whitlock is now in
Brussels dealing unothcialy with the
German military authorities. but is ac-
credited to the Belgian government,
whose seat is at Havre. France.
Status of Consular Othcers.
The status of consular officers who are
given specified districts in which to ex-
ercise their authority, may present a
more complex problem. There has been
no general understanding IN ,ne pas. VI
this phase of the subject, but the pre-
else meaning of the term "occupa uon"
was established in definition ADOPTED
by The Hague conference oil 1899 to
wmch the United States as well as all
the principal countries OF the world
were slgnatory. BY tnat definition ter
rltory Is regarded as occupied when
1t finds itself placed in TACT under the
authority OF the hostile army; the occu-
patton only extends to those territories
where this authority is established and
in a position to be exercised"
Under that definition t.e,e would be
no doubt that the German government
mas occupied a large part OF Belgium
put writers in international law have
drawn a distinction between a militia y
and civil occupation. In the case of the
former the authority exercised by the
invader is entirely different from that
exercised by the original government
and rests on different basis. having no
foundation, as one writer expressed it,
In the consent Of the governed. 1t is
maintained that no permanent change
ensues in the national character or al
legiance of the population in an occu-
pied territory. the invader supporting
himself wholly by force.
In Case of Annexation.
Should Germany formally annex Bel
gium and establish a civil authority
everywhere therein, the situation would
be complicated. as annexations during
time of war have not generally been
recognized and the decision of final
peace conferences terminating a con-
flict usually have been awaited by neu-
trail governments.
The disposition of officials here is
governed by a desire to take no step
that would offend the Belgian people.
If the German military authorities
require additional exequaturs from
American consuls the Washington gov
ernment. 1t was suggested, probably
would not interpose objections. Such
certificates would be regarded as in a
class with military passes, safe con-
ducts and other papers of a similar
nature issued by beIligerent govern
ments for the convenience of neutral
subjects.
Not Classed as Political.
AS consuls are essentially commercial
representatives and not regarded as