El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-02-07

RESIDENT WILSON warns all officials of the United
States to be particularly Jealous in keeping within
Il the law in their actions with respect to German
persons property 1t is pointed out for instance lna
The taking possession of German ships unjustabe when
relations have merely been severed without declaration
Of war and the president insists that Germany be gwen
no lust complaint STalghtvay, OFFICIALS mere
and there declare German ships have not been seized
merely being safeguarded IN order that they may
destroyed harboS to the peril OF other ca1 ana
OF the harbors themselves
We that II German ships have been taken Slnto
custody in Philippine ports, at Pensacola, one at New"
port News two cruisers at Philadelphia, liner
at Boston many ships at New York In some instances
the crews have removed and placed IN confinement
others they merely confined on board their own
vessels
which may not an war; and confiscstlon which
generally incident OF war or Itself results N war In
case of seizure the may be interpreted by the other
state involved OF and bring on hostlttles
but there which seizures have been
without resulting in or even rupture OF dlpio
matte In such called reprsalS, property
incident settlement OF the dispute
Seizures followed by take hostile character
and be followed by conscation OF an IL
all appears that States had right under
international law to seize the German ships unless as
measure Of repra with all the TlS OF war mat such
would entail simply as measure OF public SAFETY WIN
hostile intent 1t is the last category that the recent
Will doubtless be placed by the American auho
ties in any correspondence that may ensue unless war
changes the Circumstance
Ship seizures by Portugal led first sharp protest
from Germany and then declaration Of against
Portugal could easily happen the OF the
United States much president desires avoid
especially view Of the Imprisonment of the cews-wer
Germany also does desire with the United
States II fact Germany surprisingly temperate toward
United States that this country has unexpectedly
something else than write We expected an
Berlin when the of the rupture
of relations made known there Il did not come
Instead Germany very mildly asked that Ole treaty
granting nationals Of either country for leaving
reaffired might be inIernments
The reaffnation Of this treaty. seems, would put the
United embarrassing position for the treaty
said contain provision that ships cannot be seized
very Germany trying by peaceful negotia
ton effect settlement Of problem which in another
instance led declaration of by the imperial govern
en enough indicate the reluctance OF Germany to
engage in
We're Tot this proof sufficient, here IS another The
United States almost contemPOraneousy with the
of relations Germany demand for the liberation Of
81 American members OF taken from ships in the
South Atlantic by the German raider recently operating
there Germany acceded the demand and agreed to
have known the United States taking physical posses
sion Of German vessels and combining their Crews
Why did Germany do that? Why did Germany
counter the demand BY saying Certainly the imperial
government will be very glad to berate the Americans
held captive Justly according German view if you
viii release ships and their
possession of them" That would have been very per
MISSILE demand and which would placed
the United States in embarrassing position We would