The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-23
English Declare That In Case
of Nieu Amsterdam Extreme
Courtesy Was Shown
lowering About
Ports Legitimate
Necessary to Have Ships Con-
venient to Capture Interned
Ships Should They Attempt
to Escape to High Seas

London, Jan. 22.--Your corres-
pondent finds that a distinctly
disagreeable impression has been
created by the recent speech of
Mr. Mann, of Illinois, in the
House of Representatives, in re-
gard to the right of search and
the lowering of British warships
outside of American ports.
The case of the Nieu Amsterdam,
which Mr.. Mann quoted, on the au-
thority OF a Chicago newspaper man,
is decidedly at variance with the facts
as known on this side, and instead
OF England being guilty of discourtesy,
she was. in the only case of which
the authorities have knowledge re-
lating to this steamer, guilty of a re-
markable stretch or courtesy. con-
sideresng England's position as a bel
ligerent.
The incident of which the English
authorities have cognizance occurred
In december. 1t came to their
knowledge that the Nieu Amster-
dam not only had a cargo of which
large. If not the major part was
contraband. but had also aboard a
large number of German reservtsts.
including officers.
Great Courtesy shown.
It is admitted that the steamer
was stopped, but when 1t was ascer-
tanned that Mr.. Vandyke. the Amer
lean minister at The Hague. was
aboard, as an expression of extreme
courtesy TO the United States. the yes
sci was allowed TO proceed to her
destination, and neither her cargo nor
the reservists were interferel with
These reservists afterwards boasted
how they had escaped the vigilance OF
the British. No other case in which
this steamer figures is known here.
The quotation OF opinions by Hamil-
ton Fish. Secretary of State. acting
under the authority of President
Grant, by Mr.. Mann. is also regarded
as an effort to endanger the relations
Of the United States and England
upon grounds that will not stand
analysis. International law has De-
come more modified since those days.
and II may be reasonably be claimed
that warship lowering outside an
American port. providing she main
tains position outside the territorial
limit. Is as much on high seas as If
she were In mid-ocean. The argu-
ment that this so-caled lowering is
but the neutral precaution OF bel
Hgerent to be in a position to exer-
else its admitted right OF search over
suspected vessels conveniently, Is re-
inforced by stronger arguments which
u Is felt will appeal to the sense of
fair play of the American people.
Many Ships informed.
In New York ha-bor. outside OF
which most Of the towering is done,
are numbers OF informed German
ships. Most of these are OF the
speedier class which wero designed
TO act as commerce destroyers in
time OF war. In one case trans
Atlantic liner. which was afterwa rds
used as a commerce destroyer. obtain
ed her guns apparently out OF thin
air but this mystery was solved by
the subsequent knowledge that they
were carried in the ships double bot
tom ready for mounting.
The British government. after vari-
Gus German ships had been interned
received what II considered to be
trustworthy information that several