Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-09
USE OF j. S. FLAG
BEFORE CABINET
President Wilson Will Discuss
Situation With His Ad-
visors To-Day.
INCIDENT WIDELY DISCUSSED
This, With German Proclarna-
tion of War Zone, Gives Of
hcials Concern.
INCIDENT WIDELY DISCUSSED

formal discussion by President Wilson
with his advisers Of German notifica-
tion of the dangers to which neutral
ships may be subjected in the newly
prescribed war zones around Great
Britain and Ireland. and the use by
the British liner Lusitania OF the
American flag. foreshadowed to day n
diplomatic correspondence between the
United States and both Great Britain
and Germany on these questions
The American government. being
neutral. cannot discuss rules which the
belliScrents RAY adopt toward each
other The prescription OF the war
zone itself however. or the use Of n
neutral flag by belligerent owned YES
sells as stratcRem of war. has not
given the American officials concern
SO much rs the prospect that these acts
may endanger the lives OF American
citizens. whose right to travel on the
high seas on neutral ships during time
OF war, 1t is understood. will be Wig
orously defended.
The situation will be discussed to-
morrow at a Cabinet meeting Formal
inquiries as to what step the German
naval commanders will take to protect
neutrals travelling On merchant ships,
and requests for information as TO the
use of American flags by their ships
generally. u is understood. will follow
NEUTRAL DIPLOMATS
AT STATE DEPARTMENT
Many neutral diplomats were at the
state Department to-day. 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
1t was apparent on all sides here that
the German proclamation and the I.usi-
tania incident touched more closely
perhaps the position Of neutrals than
any other occurrence OF the war. In
SONG quarters England's attitude to-
ward certain articles OF the Declara
tion OF London was reviewed with In
terest Great Britain early in the war
announced she would abide by this
provision In the declaration:
The transfer OF an enemy vessel to
"A neutral flag, effected after tho out
break OF hostilities, Is void unless It
Is proved that such transfer was not
made in order to evade the conse-
quences to which an enemy vessel. as
such. is exposed. There. however. Is
an absolute presumption that n trans
fer fs void II the transfer has been
made during n voyage or In port"
Some officials suggested this pro-
vision might be construed to applv In
the case Of the Lusitania
LUSITANIA INCIDENT
EVOKES SPEECH IN HOUSE
The Lusitania incident evoked f,
speech to-day in the House bv Repre-
sentative Martin. of South Dakota who
announced that he favored Legislation
at this session to prohibit the use OF
the American colors on any but Amer
lean vessels. and to make II an ofrense
for the master OF any foreign vessel
whether belligerent or not. 10 fiy tho
American flag over ship. lie said
the penalty should be conhscation Of
the vessel and a nne for the com
mander II the ship returned to Ameri
can Jurisdiction.
inc state Department Issued de-
MAI or reports that Ambassador Page
mad telegraphed that the British gov
ernment. after having secured the
owner or the cargo OF the WilheImina.
would seize all cargoes Of foodstuns
destined to Germany without making
compensation therefor"
The general understanding in exccu-
tive quarters. however Is that the
British government still intends IN
seize all food cargoes destined to Ger.
many, though whether there will be
compensation is not known
a n,
on SUE OF FLAG
LoNDoN, February S.-American
Ambassador Page to-day forwarded to
washington report OH the use of tho
american flag by the Cunard steamer
iMsitania. The report was based on
statements to members of the embassy
stan by Americans who were pnssen-
gers on the vessel
MT. rage has not communicated with
the Foreign Office concerning the Incl
Gent. and no official communications
dealing with 1t have passed between
the American and British governments
AS The l.usitania carried $40 cabin
passengers. many of them Americans
with wide acquaintance here. news OF
the incident spread rapidly In the ho-
tells and clubs to-day until 1t became
almost the sole topic Of conversation
THe British government stoutly
maintains that the captain of the Lusi.
tania was not ordered by government
oIlcials 10 use neutral flag
NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT
by U. $. GOVERNMENT
WASHINGTON. February S.-A report
from Ambassador Page on the hoist
ing OF the American flag on the Gu
harder Lusitania while crossing tho
Irish Sea, Is expected here soon. and
pending Its arrival there was no of
fetal statement Of how the American
government regarded the Incident.
While the incident was discussed,