The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-01-07
IS BELGIUM NOW
GERMAN DOMAIN?
Kaiser Holds He Can Cancel
Exequaturs to Our ConsuIs.
.KINGALBERT MAKES PROTEST.

MN MULTI DvI6N6O llUUcOU
The State Department Is Confronted
With Most TickIish Problem, Which,
Raises Question Of Recognition Of
German Sovereignty Over the Cap.
tured Territory In Belgium.
A difficult and delicate problem, in
volving very important question of
political policy, confronts the American
state department as result of the
notification given by Germany through
Ambassador Gerard Of Germany's de-
cision to cancel the exequaturs that
Belgium accorded to foreign consuls.
1t is understood that Germany, be-
sides announcing her decision to cancel
the exequaturs granted by Belgium,
| has also asked for the withdrawal of
| American and other consuls from GER
| tain portions of the territory occupied
| by the German military forces in Bel
GUM. This is being done on grounds
of military necessity and no discrim-
| inatiOn is being shown as between ma.
TONS
While it is not believed here that
Germany is at this time seeking to
raise the question Of recognition of
| German sovereignty in Belgium, the
| cancellation of all the exequaturs
comes dangerously near raising it. The
fact is recognized, If not officially ad-
mitted, at the American state depart.
| ment, and what makes the problem
| more delicate and difficult for the Unit
ed States is the knowledge. officially
communicated by NJ: Havenith. the
Belgian minister, that the Belgian gov.
eminent has protested most vigorously
against Germany's decision to cancel
eXequaturs. -s.-. 49,
80 Basis Of Belgian Protest.
The Belgian protest is based on the
| assertion that the issue and cancella.
ton of an exequatur are acts which
imply the sovereignty of the state
from which they emanate. The ex.
| equaturs held by American and other
! foreign consuls in Belgium were grant
| ed by the Belgian government before
the war. Belgium points out that Ger
many is only in military occupancy of
Belgian territory and that the enjoy
ment of such a de facto possession can
not be transformed into state of SOY
ereignty in the relations of Germany
with neutral states. She contends that
any change in .the status of the soy.
ere1gnty of Belgium can only be deter.
mined by the treaty of peace which
will conclude the war
If Germany had proceeded to notify
foreign nations that for reasons of
safety on account of military opera
lions or for other stated reasons all
consuls should be withdrawn beyond
certain military lines no serious ques-.
ton would be raised. If the de facto
German military government in Bel.
GUM on orders from Berlin should
grant commissions to foreign consuls
to act in certain other cities without
canceling their exequaturs from Bel
GUM the question before the state de-
partments of this and other neutral
nations would not be so delicate and
Important, because that would not nee
essarily raise the question of recogni
ton Of Germany's "sovereignty.'
| We Still Recognize Belgium.
The United States still recognizes
Belgium as sovereign power, and
Belgium has minister in Washington,
who Is still recognized by the state de-
partment and is frequently received
there. Consequently, since only Bel
GUM can cancel the exequaturs that
have been accorded by the Belgium
government, any recognition by the
United States of an inherent right on
the part of Germany to cancel Bel
| GUM exequatur when Germany has
only de facto military government
| occupying Belgium might offend not
| only Belgium, but the allies of that
country, England and France. whose
military forces are endeavoring to
wrest from Germany the territory of
Belgium, the neutrality of which is
guaranteed by England and was made
the basis of England's entry into the
war.
Any act by the United States at this
time that could be regarded in inter.
national law as recognition of the
exercise Of German sovereignty in Bel
GUM would at once raise an issue with
the allies and might invite protest
from England, Belgium, France and
Russia on the ground of being an IN
neutral act by the United States, a
violation of neutrality.
BIG FUNERAL RESULT OF BET.