Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-01
INSISTS ON RIGHT
TO PURCHASE SHIPS
United States Will Not Be
Drawn Into Discussion With
Foreign Governments.
THEIR VIEWS NOT ASKED FOR
Any Protest in Advance of Ac-
tual Buying Would Be Re-
garded as Reflection.


United States does not intend to he
drawn into any discussion with foreign
governments as to whether ii has n
right TO buy belligerent ships until the
bill pending In the Senate is enacted
into law and there is n decision an to
where purchases are to be made. Re
liering that no foreign power has
grounds for supposing that in purchas-
ing ships an unneutral act will be com
mitted. no protests are expected in ad-
vice OF action by the American govern
meut.
This was made clear on the highest
authority tonight after the return Of
Secretary Bryan to the capital 1t be-
came known also. although the score
tary himself declined to make a state
nlcnt. that he nor any other official Of
the American government had asked
for or received the views, formally or
unofIicially. of belligerent governments
on the shipping bill.
GIVEN THEIR VIEWS
OS CHANGE OF REGISTRY
Great Britain and France have given
the American government their views
on changes of registry in connection
with various phases OF the questions
that have developed since the outbreak
OF the war. with the selling Of the
Brindilla and the purchase of the Dacia,
which sailed to-day from Galveston on
d test voyage with 4 noncontraband
cargo for neutral port. But in ac-
cordance with diplomatic usage, tho
state Department does not consider
that anything that may have been said
by foreign governments in special cases
Of transfer of flag or on the general
subject applies to the purposes OF the
pending bill. because the United States
government would he party to the
transaction, whereas In all previous
cases considered private individuals
alone have figured.
IT is believed In well-informed quar-
ters that an equal distribution Of tile
American governments purchases
among British. French. German ard
Austrian ships would not meet with Sc
rious objection by the .belligercnts.
The Washington government, it is
said on highest authority, confident of
itszr r!iritf dees Iot; e ziptend oFasl,a s;irsr
Its right to bestow the American flag
on it's own or private vessels, bought
after the outbreak OF hostilities. IL the
acter.
ANY WHOLESALE RELEASE; IS
NOT IN CONTEMPLATION
Any general or wholesale release Of
Austrian or German ships by an indi-
vidual or set of individuals. or by the
American government itself. easily
might present ground for complaint by
the allies. it was said in official quar-
ters. just as the purchase Of large
numbers Of British or French ships
might be Objectionable to the Germanic
allies. But no such plan is in contem-
plation. and any protest from any for
eign government in advance Of the ac-
tual purchase of ships would he re-
garded, high officials indicated, as a
reflection upon the integrity of Presi-
dent Wilson, who. under the bill,
would be given the power to make
the purchases. An unrestricted rieh;
on the part of the government to buy
belligerent as we'll as neutral ships is
desired 1t is said. to prevent neutral
ships from being offered at .prohibitive
prices.
There is every indication that before
the pending bill becomes a law. dipIo-
matte exchanges on the question of
the changes of registry will develop
more concretely the views of each OF
the belliserents. The case OF the
Dacia is test of right OF change of
flag after the outbreak OF hcstilities
Great Britain admittedly had ieclared
many such changes as legal. and her
ruling In prize court on the Daca will
constitute an important precedent.
State Department officials claim the
British and Arpa arir
subject have been virtually the same
for century. and It was pointed out
that any departure now BY England
must be considered in the light of Eng
lands position as a neutral in subse-
quent wars
PROCEDURE WILL ATTRACT
WORLDWIDE ATTENTION
The procedure in the Dacia case will
attract world wide attention. England
has served notice that her fleet will
seize the vessel. The American gov
ernment, expecting this, is preparing
to safeguard the rights OF the Ameri
can owner i'm prize court The aues-
tion how far the sale is an evasion OF
the consequences OF war and whether
it is bona fide transaction will he
the main points on which the case
will hinge.
Great Britain already has affirmed
officially. in the case of the Brindilla.
that she Will recognize transfer OF
flag where the ownership OF n vessel
is continuously American. and officials
believe that she has in that respect ad-
mitted the general right of transfer
OF flag after the outbreak of hostilities
IL the bona fde character OF the trans
action Is proven.