New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-10

Three Cases Which Violation Was Reported-The
American Woman by British Ofcer-Passpots Ignored
and the Course of Banking
To the Editor of The Tribune.

Tc the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: A day or two ago you published story
to the effect that certain man armed with an
American passport was taken from a ship ar
rested by the Germans and forcibly removed
to the capturing vessel. You indicate that the
State Department may make inquiry into this
case, and in the last few lines you state that
there was some claim or suspicion that this
man had been engaged in transactions of a
friendly nature TO the enemies of Germany.
] read The Tribune daily, but have never
seen in its pages a publication of similar
offence committed by the Allies.
About two months ago a woman with her
six-year-old daughter was proceeding from q
port in Sweden to New York upon q neutral
vessel. Because the high seas were sown by
the British navy with mines, the vessel was
forced into the territorial waters of Great
Britain, and was either apprehended or vol
UNFAIRLY went into the port of Kirkwall At
that place British officer came into the
staterOom of this woman. Upon making him
self known she told him that she was an
American citizen and handed him her papers,
consisting of her husbands naturalization
papers, her marriage certificate and her pass
port. He threw them into a corner Of the
stateroom without examining them, and they
remained there until he had left. This officer
made search of her person, disarrangng
her clothing and compelling her to take down
her hair, and nearly or quite disrobing her
daughter. Naturally, he found nothing, as
this woman is not interested in politics and
had no connection with the German govern
ment. She was not permitted even the COM
partnership of another woman during this eX-
perience. She is a decent woman and an
A A INF Of in
cident was duly made to the State Depart
ment upon her arrival in this country, but
nothing further has been heard of it.
About a month ago information came to a
client of mine who employs American citizens
of German birth to the effect that in the
Republic of Panama several such citizens had
been captured by British authority as prison.
ers of war, in spite Of the fact that they held
papers showing their American citizenship.
This client had made large consignment Of
machinery 70 a business house at Panama,
and their employee who was most competent
to set up and install this machinery was
native of Germany, but naturaized Ameri-
can citizen. Inquiry was made to the State
Department, the above information being
given and assurance asked that this man
would be protected If he went to Panama to
install this machinery. In reply an applca-
ton for n passport was forwarded with q
letter stating that the United States govern
ment had no reason for believing that an
American passport would be violated. Fur
Their inquiry brought no satisfaction.
Within the last week this same client
brought to me a cablegram from a irm in
Holland to the elect that they could not ship
certain merchandise consigned to a frm of
international bankers doing business in New
York, and suggesting the name of another
bank through whom the shipment could be
cleared. My client has been for many years
a customer Of the firm from which the mer-
chandise was purchased in Holland, and the
merchandise was similar to that which they
have been purchasing from this house for a
long time The banking house to which con-
signment was made has Germans among its
membership and is on the Black List of Great
Britain. They are known TO the business
house in Holland. and the goods are shipped
upon the bankers guarantee of their clients
account in this country. The alternative
fiscal agent mentioned in the cablegram is one
of the banks which financed the five hundred
million dollar loan Of the Allies. My client
has never been = customer of this bank and