Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-15
U. S. CALLS UPON
FRANCE FOR men
IT SEIZED At SEA
American Government A-
slant Release of .,oSN's&ken
Off vsC y allie
NO LEGAL JUSTIFICATION
Note Dispatched by Lansing Dis.
cussed by President and
His Cabinet.
TRENT CASE HAS BEEN CITED

WASHINGTON. Dec. 24.-The
United States government today
cabled Ambassador Sharp at Paris
fov presentation to the French for
eign office a note vigorously protest
ing against the removal by the
French cruiser Descartes OF six Ger
mans and Austrisns from the Ameri-
can steamships Carolina, Coamo and
San Juan. Immediate release of the
men is asked on the ground that
seizure of citizens of any nation from
an American vessel on the high seas
is without legal justification and con-
stitutes a flagrant violation Of Ameri-
can rights.
The note was dispatched by Secretary
Lansing with the full approval OF Presi-
dent Wilson. II also is understood to
have been discussed by the president
with his cabinet at today's meeting.
Precedents Cited.
Couched in friendly terms. tie COM
munication states the American point of
view emphatically and cities precedents
employed In the case OF August Piepen-
brink German who was removed from
the American ship windber b. the
French cruiser Conde in November OF
last year. and released after representa-
tions by the United States. Attention Is
directed to the fact that the men re-
moved from the ships were not embodied
in the armed forces OF the enemy as
that term is used in the Declaration OF
London. 1 tis asserted, however. that
there is no justification for the removal
OF subjects OF nation which Is an
enemy Of France from an American ves-
sci on the high seas bound to a neutral
port, even II they could properly be re-
garded as military persons.
Recalls Trent Case.
To support this position, 1t is under
stood, the note points to the rule set
down by the French minister OF foreign
affairs in q note. sent during the civti
war To the Frepch minister 70 the
upited Stafea. IN, regard to- the removal,
'ot the confedarate Commissioners Mason
and slidelf from the steamship Trent,
This note. considered especially ap-
plicable to the present situation said
ut (the Trent) was carrying It's cargo
and passengers to neutral country, and,
moreover. Il had taken them on in q
neutral port. II It were admissible that
under such conditions the neutral nag
did not completely cover the persons and
merchandise which 1t was transporting it's
immunity would not longer be anything
but an empty word at any time the com
merce and navigation OF third powers
would have to suffer from their harmless
or even indirect relations with one or
the other OF the belllgerents; the latter
would no longer be entitled merely to
require entire impartiality Of a neutral
and to forbid him from interfering in any
way in the hostilitles. but they would
place upon his freedom OF commerce and
navigation restrictions the lawfulness OF
which international law has refused to
admit.
Note e. Brief.
The text of the American note, which
is said to be brief. will be made public
when word of it's delivery to the French
foreign office is received by the State
department
Officials OF the State department appar-
emily think the French government may
see fit to contest the contentious of the
United States and that the men will not
be released until further communications
have passed between the two govern
ments. This opinion is based on the as
sumption that the commander OF the
Descartes was acting in accordance with
instructions.
The French ambassador here Is believed
to have been advised OF the intentions
of the United States during a conference
held late yesterday with Secretary
Lansing