Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-03
URGES NEW LAWS
AS TO NEUTRALITY
Attorney General Gregory Asks
Congress to Revise the
Federal Statutes.
PUNISHMENT is DIFFICULT
UNDER THE PRESENT CODE
Many Offenses Committed During
the Present War Which Govern
ment Cannot Punish.

trality laws was proposed TO congress
today in a memorandum submitted by
Attorney General Gregory and con-
Cured in by the State Department as
a result of the governments expert
ence with problems arising out of the
war and of relations with Mexico.
Enactment of eighteen laws is recon-
mended to correct defects in existing
statutes, to cover presen. omissions OF
law for the observance of obligations
imperatively imposed by international
law upon the United States. and to
make crimes against American neu-
trality punishable under federal laws.
At present many such acts do not vio-
late federal criminal law.
Broaden Presidents Powers.
Almost every phase of activity in the
United States on behalf of foreign gov
ernments which has resulted in fed
eral prosecution under the broad
charge of conspiracy would be made
specifically criminal by the proposed
legislation. In addition, the powers of
the President would be broadened with
respect to Withholding clearance to
suspected vessels. further employment
of the land and naval forces to pre-
serve neutrality, imposing a more rigid
censorship upon wireless and cable
messages to belligerent countries and
Selling arms and ammunition about to
be exported in violation of an embargo
One OF the proposed laws would au-
thorize collectors of customs or other
persons duly empowered by the Presi-
dent to inspect foreign private vessels
in American ports for the purpose of
Investigating and detecting any use
or attempted use" of the vessels in vio-
lation of neutrality laws. The use of
such vessels as place OF resort for
conspirators against American neu-
trality would also be made a crime
Another law would make criminal cer-
tain activities here of foreign spies.
Proposals for Legislation.
The proposed legislation is as fol-
lows:
IA law making it crime to pre-
vent or attempt to prevent expectation
of American goods by threats or vio-
lence to persons engaged in the manu-
facture or expectation of such articles
or by damage to the articles. the in
strumentalities of their transportation
or their place of manufacture.
In explanation. the Attorney General
says that the activities of foreign SYM
pathizers In this connection cannot at
present be reached easily by any fed
eral law
"A law making it a crime to set
fire to any vessel engaged In foreign
commerce with the United States, or
to place bombs or explosives aboard
her with intent to fnjure or destroy
the vessel or it's cargo. The present
law covering this offense is charac-
terized as containing many difficulties
of enforcement.
Holding Vessels in Port.
"A law authorizing the government
to forbid the departure from American
ports of vessels with supplies believed
to be destined for warships or supply
ships of belligerent nations on the high
seas This law also would authorize
the President to detain an armed YES
sci owned wholly or in part by Ameri-
can citizens or any vessel, American or
foreign, that has not entered the ports
of the United States as a public YES
SELL" which is manifestly built for war
like purposes, or has been converted or
adapted from private vessel to one
suitable for warlike use. until the owner
or his captain shall prove that the vessel
will not be employed in hostilities against
a nation with which the United States is
at peace.
A third provision of this law would
make 1t crime to send or conSpire to
send from an American port any vessel to
participate in hostilities or to be deliv-
cred to belligerent nation for participa-
ton in hostilities.
Under this law. collectors of Gus
toms would be given the right to inspect
foreign vessels in American ports at any
time. Attempts to deceive the inspectors
or to prevent the inspection would be
made criminal. This law also would
a q sta CHI
manifests to provide for sworn statements
that none of the cargo is to be tran
shipped on the high seas; or. If it is
to be transhipped. for an oath by the cap
tain and shipper as to what articles are
to be transhipped.
Stricter Passport Rules.
5. This proposal would broaden the
powers of the Secretary of State in re-
curing information under oath and
proof by affidavit of such facts as he
deems desirable in applications for
passports; would make misstatements
in applications for passports punish
able as perjury and would make GRIM
inal the fraudulent obtaining, transfer
or use of passports, and the alteration
or forgery of passports issued"
6. Making criminal the fraudulent
the seal of any executive department or
government commission"
I. An act simplifying the rather re-
stricted provisions Of the radio act
with reference to the powers of the
President to censor or prescribe the
manner in which wireless messages and
also cablegrams shall be transmitted
to belligerent countries or ships upon
the high seas, or otherwise.
This subject. however" says the At
Grafton by the interdepartmentai board.
which is preparing a draft of a new
radio act. L make no recommends
ton. therefore. for any specific legis-
Iation."
8. A law making it crime to set on
foot, participate in or attempt to par
ticipate in any naval expedition against
a power with which the United States
is at peace. The present law does not
specifically include naval expeditions
with military expeditions.
9. Authorizing the President to de-
tain or seize arms about to be export