Evening star., 1916-02-04
Secretary Lansing Now Con-
cerned About Its Application
to Seized Steamer.
WOULD BE BLOWN UP
If FORCED TO DEPART
Collector Hamilton, Ships Purser
and Embassy Attache Confer on
Disposal of Cargo.

today that the United States had
decided to hold that the Prussian-
American treaty governs the case
of the Appam, as Germany con-
tends, and that all that remained
to be decided was the interpreta-
ton OF the application OF the
treaty's terms.
Under the provisions OF the
Prussian-American treaty of 1910
prize vessels have the right to
come to and go freely from ports
Of the United States.
The Secretary disclosed further
that the sole question to be de-
cided by the Interpretation was
how long the Appam should be
permitted to remain in American
waters. The treaty guarantees to
a German prize the right to come
and go freely.
Would Sink the Ship
If the Appam were forced to depart
of British cruisers assembling outside
the Virginia capes. If forced to depart
German officials have stated the ship
would be sunk to prevent her recap
ture by the British.
Germany is expected to contend that
the treaty guarantees to the Appanl
the right to remain safe in Hampton
roads until the case goes before a prize
court for adjudication. Technically. the
ship does not become Germany's prize
until such court establishes the va
lidity of her capture.
British Ambassadors Demand.
Sir Cecil Spring Rice, the British am.
mand on behalf of his government fol-
the return to British owners of the
liner Appam. taken by German prize
crew. A new diplomatic controversy
with Great Britain is foresha dowed, al
the United. States practically has de-
cided to hold the prize is Germany's.
Conference About Ships Cargo.
NEWPORT NEWS. February A.
Collector Of Customs Norman P. Ham,
ilton is in close conference this morn
ing with Prince Won Hatzfeldt, coun-
selor Of the German embassy at WASH
ington: Lieut.. Berg, commander of the
German prize crew which brought the
captured British liner Appam into this
port; Purser Parker of the Appam and
Postmaster. Mugler of Newport News.
discussing the disposition of the large
quantity of mail on board the Appam.
Hampton is now on his way here to
participate in the conference. which is
being held behind closed doors at the
customshouse
telephone while the conference was in
progress that he expected a final de-
cision to be reached shortly and that
the mail would then be removed from
ing to be settled also will be discussed
at this conference, the collector said.
and 1T is hardly probable that his pres
ence on the Appam will be necessary
pected to return to Washington at /
o'clock this afternoon.
Only Prize Crew on Board.
Only Lieut.. Berg and his small prize
crew remained today aboard the former
British passenger steamer Appam,
brought into these neutral waters last
Tuesday as a prize of war. The liners
passengers and original ships COM
pany. taken prisoners when the steam
er was captured by mysterious Ger
man raider off the Canary Islands Jam
uary 10, were liberated last night by
order of the United States government.
The passengers today were aboard
the Old Dominion liner Jefferson en-
route for New York, where they were
expected to arrive early tonight The
members of the crew, with the gun
pointers taken from other British
steamers which the raider sank before
the Appam was overhauled, were in
Norfolk awaiting the sailing of an
other New York steamer tonight. Both
from the Appam to tugs and taken to
Norfolk on river steamers.
The Appam is to remain at this port
until the Washington government de-
cides what disposition of her shall be
made-whether she shall be held a fair
Prussian- American treaty or returned
to her British owners under The Hague
convention. No guard has been placed
over the vessel by the United States,
but Lieut.. Berg has given his word
that the steamer will not be moved un-
til the diplomatic questions involved in
her disposition shall have been decided.
LISBON DISORDERS CONTINUE.