The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-13
DISCUSS HEUTRALS' POSITION
AMERICA LIKELY TO OPEN COR.
REsPONDENCE WITH BRIT
AIN AND GERMANY.
United States Will Probably Protest
Against Action Calculated to- En-
danger Lives OF its Citizens mt Sea-
Informal Consideration Already.

Washington. Feb. S.-Informal dis
cussion by President Wilson with his
advisers on the German notification OF
the dangers To which neutral ships
may be subject in the newly pre-
scribed war zones around Great
Britain and Ireland and the use by
the British liner Lusitania If the
American nag foreshadowed today a
diplomatic correspondence between
the United States and both Great
Britain and Germany on these ques-
items
The American government, being
neutral. can not discuss rules which
the belligerents may adopt towards
each other. The prescription of the
war zone itself. however. or the use
OF q neutral flag by belligerent owned
vessels as a strategem OF war has not
siven the American officials concern
20 much as the prospect that these
acts may endanger TIE lives OF Amer
fean citize }, whose right To travel
en- the high seas on neutral ships
during time OF wa II is understood.
viil be vigorously defended.
The situation will be discussed to-
morrow at cabinet meeting Formpl
INQUIRIES as TO what step the German
naval commanders will take to pro-
tsct neutrals travelling on merchant
ships. and requests for information as
TO the use OF American flags 10y Brit
ish ships generally. 10 is understood.
viii follow.
Many neutral diplomats were at
the state department today and while
none proposed joint action with the
American government they sought in
formation for the guidance of their
own foreign offices.
Chairman Flood and Representative
Cline OF the house foreign affairs
committee also discussed the subject
with Mr.. Bryan but declined TO talk of
their visit afterwards.
II was apparent on all sides here
that the German proclamation and
the Lusitania incident touch moro
closely. perhaps. the position OF neu-
trals than any other occurrence of
the war. In some quarters Englands
attitude toward certain articles OF the
declaration or London was reviewed
with interest. Great Britain early i'm
the war announced she would abide
BY this provision In the declaration:
The transfer OF an enemy vessel
to-e neutral flag. effected after the
outbreak OF hostilities is void. unless
10 Is proved that such transfer was
not made in order to evade the con.
sequence to which an enemy vessel
a. such Is exposed. There, however.
10 an absolute presumption that a
transfer is void IL the transfer has
been made during a voyage or i'm
port"
Some. officials suggested that pro-
vision might be construed 10 apply
90 the case. of the Lusitania.
The Lusitania incident evoked a
speech today in the house by Repre-
sentative Martin OF South Dakota,
who announced that ne favored leg
isiation at this session 10 prohibit the
use OF the American colors on any
but American vessels. and TO make IL
an offense for the master of any for
eisn vessel. whether belligerent or
not. TO fly tho American flag over
q ship. He said the penalty should
be confiscation OF the vessel and a
hne for tho commander il the ship
returned to American Jurisdiction.
The state department issued a de-
nial OF reports that Ambassador Page
had telegraphed that tho British gov
srnment. after having secured the
owner OF the cargo OF the WiIhcl-
nina would seize all cargocs of food
stuffs destined 20 Germany without
making compensation therefor"
The understanding In executive
quarters. however is that the British
government still intends to seize oil
food cargoes destined To- Germany
though whether there will DO COM
pensation Is not known.