The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-30
BRITAIN HOLDS
UP PBERLIN MAIL
TOBERNSTORFF
Ambassador Stops Lusi.
tania Discussion as Or
ders Fail to Arrive.
STRONG PROTEST TO
BE SENT TO ENGLAND

wAsniNaroN, Dec. 2s.-Action by
British authorities In selling mails from
Germany for the United States was
syen in German Embassy quarters to-
NJ sh; as one OF the reasons for the fall
ure OF Count Won Bernstorff to carry
cations with Secretary Lansing for a
settlement OF the Lusitania dispute.
This information. coupled with assur-
snces from high officials of the state
vigorously protest to England against
interference with mails destined for the
United States caused stir In official
and diplomatic quarters.
In German Embassy quarters II was
sad Count Won Bernstorff could not
continue his conversations with Mr.
Lansing without certain instructions
from the German Foreign OfYice. II
xas explained that these Instructions
would be received here by mail early
this week. Although II was stated In
embassy circles that there WAS no proof
to snow that these instructions had been
Included In the first class mail seized
By the British. such is believed to be
The case.
Reason for Seizures.
Tie Sta,eDepartment. II was learned.
has received from abroad an interesting
suggestion concerning Great Britains
probable purpose In violating the post
81 conventions and interfering with
these mails. II Is that Great Britain
had learned that the German authori-
ties IN Belgium captured large guam
tty OF American securities owned by
Br.t!shers and other enemy investors
and were sending them to the United
States to be hypothecated.
!; was emphasized in German circles
to-nirht that Count Won Bcrnstorr Is
!abOT.ng under almost impossible ham
dCaps IN his efforts to communicate
ccnhden,ially with his home Govern
nent
1t w exn'a.ned that the German
Foreign once mad lately resorted to the
use OF the mails FOR the transmission
Of code dispatches to Washington for
the reason that IL had been found en-
harrass.ag to exchange these communi-
cations by wireless In view Of the fact
that every such message under Presi-
dent Wilson'S censorship order has to
Pass through the hands Of State De-
partment officials who. provided with
copies of the German secret code. de-
cipher and pass on all that is received
for the Ambassador or sent By him to
Berlin.
Violates Conventions.
In it's coming protest to Great Brit
Gin the state department & .icials will
Say that Interference with the first class
mails Of the United States is in direct
violation Of the postal conventions.
T'l..a
parcel post matter, which IL regarded
IN the light Of express, specifically pro-
vide that nrst class mail matter Of n
heutral country shall be free from viola
sos by belligerent in time OF war.
The fact that the mails were taken
nom steamers In British ports does no.
alter. in the view of the American State
Nepdrtmcnt, the gravity of the offence,
hr according TO reports received at
No state Department. the vessels were
ordered by British cruisers to proceed
u these ports for the purpose Of having
uer mails examined.
The cEaptor in the Hague conven.
ron Of October IS. 1907, relating to
postll correspondence specifies that such
correspondence. whether OF neural or
teliigerent nations and whatever its char
setter. found on board "A neutral or enemy
snip on the nigh seas s inviolable II
the ship is detained the captor is obl-
gated TO forward the correspondence with
lae least possible delay.
feature of the agreement on which
defenders of the British mail seizures
Ar expected to dwell is the provision
IN the second paragraph declaring that
u" rules laid down do not apply in case
o. violation of blockade, to correspond
ence destined for or proceeding from
DO kad-d port and also on the UNDER
Sanding that the Hague convention does
no apply In war in which some of the
oelhgerents, such as Turkey and Bull
sSf.a. We're not signatorles TO the agree
neut
Stale Department officials declared to-
h'Fh', however, that the United States
WI hot rely solely on the Hague con-
Nention, but on other postal conventions
~ IN force and effect and unquestion- |
ABLY applicable to the seizures.