The Topeka state journal., 1916-07-24
President Wilson Determined
to Bring Britain to Terms.
Every Effort VIII Be Made to
NuIIify Blacklist.
MAY BUY GERMAN SHIPS
Z. s. Can Use Vessels Interned
on Account of the War.
Armed Neutrality To Be En-
pIOyed If Diplomacy Fails.

Washington. July 24.-lt was inti-
mated in administration circles today
that President Wilson is considering
armed neutrality with which to defeat
Great Britain's warfare upon Ameri-
cas- neutral foreign trade under the
suise of n blacklist of American indi-
viduals and firms.
The president was represented as
being disturbed by the evidences OF
British aggression at the expense of
citizens of the United States and to
have Indicated to members of the
cabinet his determination to bring
Great Britain to account
The action under consideration, II
was said. is two-fold.
First, the furnishing of public ves-
sells as "a convoy for merchant ships
flying the American flag
Second, the purchase from German
owners IF several large ships which
have been tied up at their docks in this
country ever since the war began.
No Retaliation.
The establishment of an embargo
was said to have been considered and
discarded by administration officials
as impracticable and injurious.
The argument was that If the United
States placed an embargo on the ship
ment of supplies of all kinds to Great
Britain. more American business
would be lost and the act would not
cure the evil for which it would be
intended.
Instead of refusing to sell to Great
Britain it was stated the United
States may furnish an armed convoy
which would prevent interference Of
any kind by English or French war
ships with the American merchant
ships protected.
The limited States has Irea ties with
several countries providing that mer-
chant vessels flying the American
flag. engaged in innocent trade and
accompanied by a public ship which
would include light house tenders,
revenue cutters or warships, shall not
be subject to visit and search.
1t was limited in Washington that
the Russian regulations on Maritime
prizes published March 27, 1915 cover
the International law on the subject.
These regulations say:
The Regulations.
Merchant vessels sailing under
military convoy of an allied or neutral
power are not subjected to examina-
tion provided the commander of the
convoy furnishes a certificate as to
the number of vessels being conveyed,
their nationality and the destination
of the cargoes, and also as to the fact
that there is no contraband of war on
the vessels.
The stoppage and examination of
these vessels is permitted only in the
following cases:
'.First-When the commander of the
convoy refuses to give the certificate
mentioned.
"Second-When he declares that
one or another vessel does not belong
to the number of those sailing under
his convoy, and
'Third-When it becomes evident
that a vessel being conveyed is pre-
pairing tC commit an act constituting
g breach of neutrality"
The United States does not accept
absolutely the regulations but in the
main. officials said. they conform to
the recognized principles of interna-
tional law governing the use of neu-
1ral conveys.
The United States has held as
against the British claim TO search
conveyed merchant ships that if the
United States government instructed
its officers to give convoy, it would
not allow them to submit to the search
by foreigners of vessels under their
charge. on the ground that the con-
Voy was placing our officer ard the
nation itself in an attitude of inferior
ity and humiliation.
Word of Honor Sufficient
The government has also asserted
that when vessels are under CONVOY
his word of honor that th- vessel un-
Ger MS protection belongs to the ma
don whose flag he carries, and, when
they are bound to an enemy's port.
That they have 70 contrabnnd goods
on board. shall be sufficient"
There is possibility that in pur-
suance of his reported intention of
nulltfying the British declaration of
war against mercantile interests of the
United States; il he cannot through
diplomatic discussions, persuade Great =
britain TO retract, the president may