Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-03
Neutrality Board Decides That
Way but Afterwards Recalls
Its Announcement Because
Department Has Not Acted.
A CONFLICT OF OPINION
L. $. Officials Believe Liner Is
Prize under Prussian-A Ameri-
can Treaty of 1S2S-England
Contends Ship Should BE Sur
rendered.

Washington, Fob 2.-Indications that
tho British passenger liner Appam,
brought into Hampton Roads by a Ger
man prize crew, will he held by the
United States to be a German prize OF
war and not an auxiliary cruiser. were
given tonight in high official quarters.
Tho neutrality board. which advises
the state department on such questions.
announced to-day that the ship WAS n
prize. but the announcement was re-
called later, presumably because the
state department itself has not acted.
The real point To bc decided is whether
the Appam shall remain in possession
of the prize crew under the terms of
the Prussia American treaty or shall
bo returned to her British owners under
The Hague convention. Indications were
given that the state department will hold
that the prize belongs to Germany.
Count Won Rcrnstorff. the German am
bassador. in formal note to Secretary
Lansing gave notice that the Apram
came into Hampton Roads under tho
treaty which guarantees her 10 her cap
tors Sir cecil Spring Rice. tho British
amha ssador, asked that the ship be re-
turned to her British owners as a prize
record under article 21 of The Hague
convention.
state department officials indicated to-
day that if tho Appam finally is held
10 hc prize. tho Prussian-Americar
treaty Of 1925 is more likely 10 govern the
case than is Tho Hague convention.
This would mean that the Appam would
be turned over to hcr German captors
and in that case somc German officials
expressed the view that tho prize crew
rather than lot hcr fail back into the
hands of tho British. as would seem in
cvitablc IL she left port. might take tho
ship to the three-mic limit and sink her,
The original treaty expired hy limta-
ton in 1870, When il was renewed a
provision which removed British vessels
from scope Of the article was eliminated
and the treaty of 1875. which now is in
force, gives German prizes the right to
come and go.
Tho Hague convention under article u
provides for the intornrnent Of tho crew
and tho surrender of the ship. but state
depa rtmont officials are doubtful that it
can be applied TO the case of the Appam,
first because the rrussan- American
treaty is bcIlcNcO 10 De hlnblnE, Hll',
second. because Great Britain signed
but never ratified this particular Hague
convention.
Until tho status OF the ship is decided
she will remain in the custody Of Nor
folk customs authorities and if turned
over to Germany may he kept in port or
sent to sea as the German government
chooses.
The state department to-day requested
the customs authorities to land all pas
sengers and non-comhatants. Their case
now goes to the immigration authorities.
| Foreign consuls will care for their own
ma tionals who are INDECENT Those who
can afford to do so are free TO 20 on
| to Europe.
! \ London despatch saws
| 1T is understood here that the Appam
| carried S2.5O0.C00 in bullion which prob
ably will be claimed as I prize. as bullion
| is contra band "