Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-09-30
MARsHALLING THE FACTS.


In the month Of August of this
year, there sailed from the supposed
ly neutral country of Norway one,
Sigmund MOos, an American citizen,
carrying with him, at the request Of
certain of his acquaintances in Ger
many, letters intended for business
friends in the United States, Central
and South America. In order to as
sure their safe arrival at their re-
spectiye destinations, Mr.. Moos was
asked to deposit these letters in the
mail on his arrival in New York
The envelopes were addressed but
unfranked.
international law does not permit
the censoring Of correspondence of
this character, but the arrogance of
Great Britain in illegally selling neu-
trail und belligerent mails Obliged
American citizens to stoop to the
most humiliating practices in order
to secure their very evident right.
BE it said to the credit Of Mr.. Moos
that he succeeded in passing this
private correspondence under the
eyes of the alert British censor
When safely at sea, the letters we're
placed by Mr.. Moos in his trunk,
thankful to have done q small SER
vice to his friends in Germany
When the trunk was searched by
the Customs officials of the Port of
New York, the letters were found
lying in plain view Of the inspector.
There was no attempt to hide them
as Mr.. Moos was aware Of the fact
that he was entirely within his rights
in having brought them to this
country.
The seizure Of these letters form
one Of the most interesting para
graphs in the history of the Wilson
administration in relation to the pro-
lection and defense of American
rights Where the British censor
had failed, the American branch OF
the British censorship succeeded.
The inspector demanded an explana-
tion Of the character of the letters,
which explanation was readily given.
Thereupon the letters were seized
and Mr. Moos was directed to appear
before the United States District At
torney. There he was questioned at
length about the character OF the let
ters and then was served with a sub
poena to appear before the United
States Grand Jury, and directed, fur
thermore, to bring the letters with
him. He was taken to the Barge
Office, where he was directed to open
the sealed letters. Having done this,
four or five people read the complete
correspondence and returned it to
Mr. Moos, and so the letters passed
for the moment from the custody OF
Uncle Sam to that OF Mr.. Moos, with
the proviso that the letters be pro-
duced before the Grand Jury. At
the examination before the Grand
Jury he was questioned at length by
the United States District Attorney,
and permitted to depart, but the let
ters were seized and have remained
to this day, despite all the attempts
of his council to secure them. The
United States District Attorney.
whose well known zeal in the per-
formances Of his public duties has
been exhibited in the investigation
Of bomb plots etc. etc. etc, must
await instructions from Washington
before returning the letters to Mr..
Moos.
There can be no question whatever
that from a legal standpoint under
the provisions of the revised United
States statute, anyone has q perfect
right to act as a messenger for his
friends or business acquaintances in
bringing letters from one country to
another, without thereby violating
any of the laws of this country, pro-
vided he accepts no compensation for
such service. Such are the facts in
regard to one instance in which the
machinery Of the United States Gov
ernment is being used to supplement
the efficacy Of the British censorship
OF the mails, a proceeding which we
have described on the part Of the
British authorities to be without the
pale of the law 1t Is not only neces-
sary to avoid detection by the British
censor, but it is far more important,
apparently, to escape the watchful
eyes OF our Customs inspectors, who
under the leadership of Dudley Field
Malone guard the sacred neutrality
of the Port OF New York. 1t should
be the business Of some Congress-
man to see to it that these letters
are returned to Mr. Moos IL he was
within his rights in bringing them
here or to punish Mr.. Moos IL he
committed an Illegal and indefensible
act. (B. II. R)