Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-02-05
TIE ENlnARGo ouEsTIoN.

Yesterday the German Correspon-
dent published an appeal Of the
American Truth Society to the voters
of the country who want to see the
United States actually neutral. The
voters are urged to write to their
respective Congressman and SEN
ators. asking them as to their stand
on the embargo question. The Amer
lean Truth Society believes that
million letters OF the kind will make
a deep impression on Congress and
on the President
The following joint resolution, in
troduced by Representative stephen
G. Porter Of Pennsylvania, is now be-
fore the Committee ON Foreign Al
fairs,
RESOLVED by the Senate and
House of Representatives Of the
United States Of America in Con-
gress assembled, that the President
is hereby authorized, in his discre-
ton, to prohibit the expectation Of
arms, ammunition, and submarines
OF every kind (whether whole or in
parts to be later assembled) from
the territory or any seaport of the
United States until otherwise order
ed byt he President or by Congress" "
1t should be passed, and for four
principal reasons, viz: (1) Its pas
sage would consist with the humane
sentiments of the American people
and, by Fastening the end of the
war, would meet with the approval
of every right thinking person in the
world; CD it's passage would put an
end to the gross violation of our neu-
trality involved in the traffic in
arms; (3) it's passage would con-
serve resources for our own use
which will be soon needed If the
Presidents program Of preparedness
is adopted; and (4) its passage
would compel Great Britain to alter
her damaging tactics toward our
trade and rights to trade.
Those who oppose an embargo on
the ground that it's institution would
be an unneutral act can see in 1t
nothing but an effort to help Ger
many at the expense Of her enemies
by robbing them of the advantage
which they possess through the con-
troll of the seas They forget that
this same control of the seas has
been employed in q manner which
would warrant any neutral in re-
fusing to enhance it. They forget,
too, that Great Britain and her allies
have compelled every neutral coun-
try of Europe, under threat Of hav-
ing their external trade by sea cut
Off, to place embargoes on the ex-
portation OF munitions Of war to the
Central Powers that there is an act
on the statute books OF Great Britain
permitting the British Government
at any time to lay such an embargo;
and that time and again both this
country and other neutrals have
acted on the principle that they are
perfectly within their rights in pro
hibiting in time of war the exporta-
tion OF arms and ammunition from
their territories and seaports. In
the case Of this country this is not
only q right but an obligation.
Even the most violent opponents
Of an embargo admit that a govern
ment is not entitled, while neutral,
for carrying on its war. Were our
War Department to sell to Great
Britain its stock OF discarded
Mausers they would undoubtedly be
silent on any protest against an act
however, that q provision OF the
Hague Conventions inferentially per-
mits individual citizens or subjects
of government to engage in traffic
with a belligerent in munitions Of
war.
This permission can be invoked,
however, only by subjects Of those
governments that are distinct from
and superior to tho people which
they govern. 1t cannot be invoked
by the citizens Of the United States,
for they are collectively the govern
ment of the United States and in
dividually so many parts of that gov
ornment. What the citizens Of this
country, or part of them. do is
done wholly, or in part, by the gov
ernment Of this country.
This is sound doctrine, and has
had the support OF past Administra
tions. Thus President Cleveland, al
luding in his annual message OF De-
cember 2nd, 1895, to conditions then
existing in Cuba, said: 'The plain
duty Of their Cthe citizens OF the
United States) Government is to OBJ
serve in good faith the recognized
obligations of international relation
ship. The performance of this duty
should not be made more difficult by
disregard on the part of our citi-
zens Of the obligations growing cut
of their allegiance to their country
which should restrain them from
violating as individuals the neu-
trality which the nation of which
they are members is bound to OBJ
serve in its relations to friendly SOW
crcign States" Again, writing on
August 7th. 1865, Secretary Seward
held that British subjects who in
tervcne in our Civil War" by selling
munitions of war to the enemy ARE
by the law Of nations liable to be
treated by this Government as en-
emies Of the United States, having
no lawful claim to DO protected by
Her Majosty's Government"
The Supreme Court in Kennel VS..
Chambers stated the duty Of the citi-
zen when 1t held that compact "is
made by the Department OF the Gov
ernment upon which he himself has
agreed to confer the power IL is
his own personal compact as a pcr-
ffop ~ tbn coyAr0fDpty .,