Evening star., 1914-08-09
Must Not Be in Uniform or
Garry Arms and Are to Sail
as individuals.
NEUTRALITY CONFERENCE
HAS REACHED DECISION
Administration Desires to Be Fair to
All Countries Involved
in War.


clamation by the President, which were
atices Of the Navy. War, Treasury and
Commerce departments yesterday. Eu-
rcpean reservists will be allowed to
sail for their home countries if they
are not in uniform, do not carry arms
and go as individuals.
The instructions were designed with
the idea that the responsibility and
burden Of deciding questions of interna-
tional law shall be passed along by col
lectors to the Treasury and State depart
ments
They supersede instructions recently
given without the knowledge of the
Treasury by the Department Of Com
merce which affected reservists and
ships.
The status of the Naterland. now filled
with German reserves and lying i'll New
York harbor, was laid before the coun-
selor of the State Department by the
German charge.
Message Sent Malone.
We think clearance must be granted
when supposed reservists go as individ-
uals and not as organized military. un-
less there are other grounds for with
holding.
This was the message sent to Dudley
Field Malone, collector of customs at
New York, by the Department of Com
merce today in answer to his inquiry
as to whether the steamer Rochambeau.
preparing to leave New York Tor france
with a number of supposed reservists,
should be allowed to depart. The in
structions to Mr.. Malone. in this case
it was said by officials here, might con,
stitute a precedent to be followed in all
cases where reservists were preparing
to leave to join the armies of their nome
countries.
Administration officials have felt
particular embarrassment in connection
with reservists, because the French
several days ago with hundreds OF
French reservists aboard.
New Customs Instructions.
These new instructions were issued
to collectors Of customs:
you will permit foreign bound yes
sells to clear only after they have filed
with you their full and final mani
tests.
You will notify all merchant vessels
in your district that they will be sub
ject to inspection and examination OF
documents, ships and cargoes by
United States authorities before clear
ance is given, and Will be SUBJECT 10
further examinations by United States
authorities after clearance and while
such vessel remains within the terri
torial waters of the United States.
Such vessels shall stop and lie to for
examination when Signaled by united
States vessel.
ANY foreign-bound vessel whose
character as a merchant vessel is es-
tablishcd to your satisfaction is en-
titled to clearance tsubJect to the
requirements OF paragraph - no mat
ter what the character of her cargo
or what her destination.
You will not refuse clearance to
merchant vessels whether Of the
United States or other neutral power,
solely on the ground that the cargo
contains contraband of war.
when vessel of a belligerent pow
er which has arrived as merchant
vessel alters Or attempts to alter sucn
status so as to become an auxiliary
cruiser or an armed vessel in any de-
gree you will Immediately notify the
department by wire, giving all par
ticulars.
Changing Ships Character.
ANY of the following acts will con-
stitute such q change of status:
"(A) The placing in position or other
wise changing the location of guns
which were on board the vessel a the
time Of her arrival.
"(B) SO changing the appearance,
color. rig or equipment CT a vessel as
to render her suitabl for some pur-
pose of war.
"(C) The taking on board of guns.
arms or ammunition under circum
stances which in any way Indicate
the outftting of the vessel for any
purpose Of war or in aid of military
expedition.
should any vessel depart. or attempt
to depart, from your district without
regular clearance, you will wire the
department. and also the commander
of the nearest naval vessel or revenue
cutter.
You will report by wire to the de-
partment and to the commander of the
nearest naval vessel or naval station
the arrivals and departures of all war
vessels of foreign nations.
In case of doubt. wire the depart
ment for instructions"
Protest on Censorship.
A letter was received at the White
House today from the chamber of Ger
man-American commerce at New York
protesting against the lack of censorship
on French and English cables in the
United States, while a censorship is i'm
posed upon the German wireless stations
at Sayville. L. l.. and Tuckerton. n. ].
ITO the best Of our belief and informa-
ton said the letter, movements Of
German ships are cabed from here to
England and France over the cables and
then Transmitted by wireless to English,
French and Russian men-of-war, and
these cables are used to disseminate false
reports. rumors and exaggerations which
influence public opinion against Germany
and tend to humiliate her in the eyes of
the world.
Are these facts not infringements on
the neutrality declared by the United
States and should not these cables be put
under strict censorship
Under orders from the Treasury De-
partment vessels of the revenue cut
ter service have ben inspecting steam
ers and sailing craft clearing from
American ports to see that they have
aboard nothing that is in violation of
the neutrality laws Of this country.