Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-08-06
NEUTRALITY IS
CAUSING WORRY
At WASHINGTON
Administration Proposes Strict
Enforcement and Fears
Wheat Shipments May Be
COntraband.


Washington. Aug. 5.-The magnl-
tudc of the problem Of American neu-
trality In the international war into
which Europe has been plunged what
IL may mean In the future in the in
teInational relations of the United
states ana how great It's importance
may prove to Americans at present,
came sharply today to the attention
OF the administration.
Prompt steps were taken to see
that the presidents proclamation of
is observed to the letter.
Instructions were telegraphed to
every collector of customs throughout
the country TO see that IL is observed
and that vessels clearing from Ameri-
can ports make out the necessary pa
pers. Tonight. to supplement this,
orders were sent to the commander
of every revenue cutter from East
port, Me-, TO Seattle and Nome. Alas
ka. to give every possible assistance
TO the customs officers to avoid vio-
lations Of the proclamation. The cut
ters' cruising grounds cover every
iilllt from MdlHt 10 0uiNtSlou anu tp
the Pacific coast.
May Patrol Coast Lines.
For the present their officers and
men Will act in conjunction with the
customs officials in port. II there are
reports. however. of strange exhibit
tons in the windings of the coast
where there are no collectors and If
arms is attempted the cut
tiers viii he sent out on patrol duty
to search the seas. Radio stations
within the jurisdiction of the United
States were prohibited by an execu-
tive order issued tonight by President
Wilson from receiving or transmitting
of an 'unneutral nature
from any of the European nations now
at war The order was delivered to
the secretary Of the navy for enforce
ment
To Censor Radio Messages.
After telephone conversation at
midnight between Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt and the commandant of the
New York navy yard. it was decided
to place naval officers as censors at
all radio stations. Officers from
will leave tomorrow to
supervise the sending of messages at
the Sayville. l.. l., station.
The subject of neutrality was dis
cussed today at large conference at
the treasury. Secretary MeAdoo,
Counsellor Lansing, of the state de-
Dartment, and Assistant Secretaries
sweet. of Commerce, and Roosevelt, OF
The navy; Malburn and Newton. OF
The treasury. were present
Neutrality Vexing Problem.
II became apparent as the discus
sion progressed that the problem OF
is one Of the most vexlng
'acing this government. Within 4
ew weeks the wheat crop, much OF
which goes normally to Europe, will
,e at the seaports elamoring for ships
md passage.
American owners will be anxious
o sell and no one doubts that some
# the belligerents will wish TO buy.
wheat will be eontraband of
var and whether the United States,
S a neutral, can permit it to be load
d for shipment to a nation at war, Is
question. Wheat is only one of the
many things which Europe usually
axes from this nation, which may be
egarded as contraband. There Is
ONE question even as to whether
old Is free from the ban.
Ignorance on Subject.
One difficulty in the way of So
ltion of the problem is that none of
he fighting nations has defined what
considers contraband and no inter-
atlonal law is clear on the point,