Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-04

ernmentS.
There should be no sequestration
or confscation of private property
either in the United States or Ger
many, although it may be taken for
use under certain circumstances. The
ninety-hve or more German merchant
ships tied up in American ports since
the beginning Of the war may. be used
by the United States, but the German
owners ultimately must be compen-
stated. The ships scattered IN the
ports OF continental United States,
Porto Rico and the Pacific island
possessions, including the Philippines,
comprise some of the best known
ocean liners and aggregated 628,837
gross tons. Only in case Of war is
there possibility of their being abso-
lutely conhscated, and even then
such action is doubtful, for the
United States in the world court Of
nations has been the leading expo
nent of the inviolability Of private
property
Mails Will Continue,
Mails will continue to move under
the Geneva convention and other ex-
isting~ special conventions. There
has been no restriction upon the free
movement Of travellers between the
two countries other than the fixed
policy OF the United States to issue
no passports to Americans wishing
to visit the war zone unless they have
pressing business there.
In fact, so far as individuals arc
concerned the status remains prac-
tically unchanged by breakfn dipfo-
matte relations.
Prison Work Discontinued.
There is, however, one relation be-
tween the United States and Ger
MANY which ceases through diplo-
matte rupture. 1t is the humanitar-
ian task of guarding the welfare Of
soldiers in the prison camps OF their
enemies and the care of German CIV
ilians detained in the entente coun-
tries, This vast task which is being
performed by American diplomatic
representatives in England, in the
French camps in Africa and in the
Russian camps extending to the icy
! water of Siberia, will have to be con-
hded to other hands. Likewise the
welfare of British, French, Russian
and other allied prisoners in Ger
many, Austria and Turkey will pass
to some other neutral power.
Precedents for Action.
Precedent for the severance OF
diplomatic relations is found in mod
crn history only between lesser nell
trail nations and hrst-class powers and
lesser ones. The United States sus-
pended diplomatic relations with Mex
leo and only recently were they re-
sumed. 1t suspended diplomatic re-
lations with Nicaragua when Zelaya
executed two Americans. When John
Quincy Adams was president the
American charge d'affaires at Rio
Janeiro demanded his passports and
returned to the United States with
out instructions because he consid-
cred unwarranted the capture Of
American ships by Brazilian war YES
sells enforcing a blockade.
Great Britain suspended diplomatic
relations with Venezuela for ten years,
from 1887 TO 1897, and suspended Dip
lomatic relations with Serbia from
1908 to 1906, after murder of King
Alexander and Queen Draga.
Reprisals and Retaliation.
After the breaking of diplomatic
relations, comes the possibility of
other measures termed non; micable
modes of redress" which also are
measures short of war" These
modes of redress may include reprisals,
retaliations, nonintercourse and dis
play of force, and still there may be
no state of war.
Nonintercourse acts can be passed
by congress to stop commerce be-
tween the United States and Ger
many, but as the war already has put
the trade at low ebb the effect will
be negligible.
Displays OF Force.
Displays of force have been fire.
quently used by the United States
and European powers to impress the
earnestncss of their position. Writers
on international law class the allied
march to the relief of the legations
at Picking as display of force short
of war. When all the measures short
of war have been exhausted or either
nation decides to dispense with them
comes the eventuality-war itself
More than 100 times since 100
war has begun before it was formally
declared. Only twelve times in the
2l6 years has war actually been de-
clared before hostilities began.
The latest notable instance was the
opening action Of the Russo Japanese
war, when Admiral Togo attacked a
Russian feet. Russia complained OF
a<surprise attack, but Japan pointed
out it had notified Russia it was
breaking off diplomatic relations and
reserved the right to take such in
dependent action as might be deemed
best"
The Hague convention uf 1907 took
notice of the situation and adopted an
article making it necessary for ma
ton to declare war before beginning
hostilities.
1t provided, however, that there
might be an ultimatum with condi-
tional declaration of war. In general
practice, a declaration OF war has
come to be regarded more as call
to arms than as notification to a
prospective enemy.