The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-13
TREASON.
Confusion Between the Literary and
Legal Definitions.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-SH'
Have you not done an injustice to MIR.
Victor Ridder In your editorial article
to-day? In referring to the letter wrong
fully subscribed with his fathers name
as amounting to an act OF treason he
was not thinking of the dire penalties or
the criminal statute in force in this
Understood, namely: betrayal, treach-
cry or breach Of allegiance or obedience
toward tho sovereign" (Standard Do
tionary.)
Another morning Newspaper quotes
from a statement in q German news
paper In Chicago this sentence:
we sh,uld do everything within Reason
to avoid war-internai war ~ we'll a. war
with a fareiGn Power"
The menace 10 plain. To threaten
that II the armed forces Of the United
States should be called upon to enforce
respect Of American lives on the high
seas there will be some shooting from
the rear Ia also treason as ordinarily
understood.
The Constitution defines he sort OF
reason for which there Is a statutory
penalty. Merely because other forms OF
treason are not punished by our laws
does not make them any the less treason.
II may not take much argument to con-
vince certain among our naturalized citi-
Gems that disloyalty to the United states
in time Of peace not being that form OF
reason punishable under our laws may
be INDUCED in with safety. 1t were
better to remind them that there are
several species OF treason which be
committed In time OF peace for which
the laws of the United States provide
punishment, al shown by Sections Z to )
inclusive of the act OF March 4, 1909,
section s provides:
section 9. Criminal oorrespondsncs
with foreign oovernments.) Every ciu'
zen Of the United States. whether actual
resident or abiding within the same, or In
any place subject to the jurisdiction there
OF. or in any foreign country twho7 u
without. the permission or authority OF the
Government. directly or Indirectly. com
inences or carries on any verbal or written
correspondence or Intercourse with sny
foreign Government or any officer or agen;
thereof. with an intent to influence tbs
measures or conduct OF any foreign Gov
ernnent or any officer or agent thereof
In relation to any disputes or controversial
with the United sta;es. or TO defeat the
measures of the Government OF the United
States; and every person. being a citizen
OF or resident within the United States OF
In any place subject to tho jurisdiction
thereof and not duly authorized twho?l
counsel. advises or assists In any sucf
correspondence with such intent. shall be
fned not more than 5000 and imprisoned
not more than thres years. but nothing IL
this section shall be construed TO abridg,
the right OF a citizen to apply. himself OF
HIS agent. TO any foreign Government OF
the agents thereof for redress OF any In
Jury which he may have sustained from
such Government or any OF its agents oil
subjects. (35 Stat. L.. lossD"
In so far as acts thus punished are
committed by citizens OF the United
States. they Involve betrayal. treachery
brcach OF allegiance" The section which
refers to criminal correspondence "or in
tercourse' with a foreign Government
and its agents concerning any matter
which is tho subject OF controversy be
tween such Government and the Gov
eminent o: the United states suggest:
that IL is high time that the Department
OF Justice woke up 10 the necessity OF
watching the persons in charge OF pub
locations financed In whole or in part bl
the German Government and in touc,
with agents OF that Government also
Tho different ramlications OF the Ma
tional German American Alliance and !ts
contact with agents OF the German Gov
ernnen; in connection with It's campaign
on the subject OF the manufacture anc
sale OF arms and ammunition for use II
the present war, which IS a subject o
controversy between tho German Gov
and the Government OF tn,
United States.
In 60 Ear as our citizens are at present
corresponding or having other inter
course, direct or indirect. with diplo
matte. consular. military or other puolit
or secret agents OF the German Govern
ment concerning the UNFOLDING In hi!
country OF GerInany's submarine war
fare, they are subject 10 punishment un
der our laws. and so are foreigner
living here. including those agents othe
than those enjoying diplomatic immunity
who use our territory as n base OF opera
tons against our efforts TO secure 70
dress from their Government by foment
ing d!ssensious among US.
II is no eNaggerat!on 10 say that IN
letter and spirit OF tho Federal statut,
quoted above have been broken over a u
over again during tho past month IN IN
many German American centres OF &c
tlv!ty throughout the country wher'
German agents and German American
leaders work side by s!ie against IN,
United states under such convcn!en
shields as 'pesce," neutrality" and ia!
p,ay." \ good way 70 discourage Ger
many from making war upon US Is 4
maintain throughout the country Fedora
Grand Jury investigations into all case
OF violation OF Sections ! 20 s inclusive
81 the act Of March 4, 1909, especial!
Section 3 thereof. MAURICE LEON.
Nru Nopp ItpaIT