Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-04-14
FURTHER ENCROACHNIENT ON
AMERICAN RIGHTS.

Great Britain coolly appropriates
the argument of military necessity
IN order TO justify the fragrant viola
tion OF law involved i'm the seizure OF
private persons of enemy nationality
from the American steamship China.
These persons were not. connected
with an enemy government, were not
reseryists and were not even bound
for Germany They We're as exempt
from molestation under the law as
Mason and Sndell, and more so, since
Mason and Slidell were agents OF
belligerent, and the Chinas passen-
gers were not Yet, claiming that
these persons We're up to mischief,
the British government ordered their
seizure. and they We're taken by
warship from an American passenger
vessel on the high seas.
The British note attempting to
justify this seizure is an admirable
specimen of evasion and omission
II pleads necessary changes Of law,
and goes back to the substance of the
old excuse. "the other fellow is
violating the law. so we must violate
it also" This is. of course. q con-
fession and not a justification. But
the time has long since passed when
the European governments observed
the rights OF neutrals and conformed
to law because it was law
Report has it that on April 8 the
allies. under British leadership, will
begin new inroads upon neutral
rights at sea in the hope of Starving
Germany" Just what direction these
encroachments Will take is not yet
disclosed but il is safe to assume
that the result will be an advantage
to British traders at the expense OF
ncutralS.
A stage has already been reached
where il is unsafe, if not physically
impossible, for Americans to ship
goods anywhere in the world If any
Of the owners or stockholders con-
ccrned bear a German name. Amer
ican corporations are forced to sub
NIT the names of their stockholders,
and If German names appear i'm the
list the corporation is liable to be
blackiisted, although the holders OF
these names may be native American
citizens and their fathers before
them Shipping firms and shipOwn-
crs have been terrOrized by the
threat of seizure OF ships and car
goes, so that shipping agencies Will
not accept cargoes which have not
run the gauntlet of the British em-
bassy. If the shipper is vouched for
by the british embassy, he may ship
his goods: If he is blacklisted. ship
ping companies will not receive his
goods His antecedents may be per-
fectlv innocent and neutral; his
goods may be intended for neutral
use i'm a part of the world remote
from Europe. but be must submit to
the ovorlordship of Great Britain on
80 out OF business.
This system OF espionage is estab-
lished not in London. but on Amer
lean soil II has its headquarters in
Washington within sight of the
Capitol.
And President Wilson, his State
Department. his Department of Com
merce. his Department OF Justice
they all do not wimper. they all look
on In silence. they do not see that
Great Britain has taking over the
sovereignty Of the United States;
while on the other hand they are
combing the country with fine
toothcomb for alleged German plot
ters.
Is it any wonder that the Germans
speak of secret understanding be-
tween the Government Of the United
States and Great Britain?