Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-04-17
President Issues Proclamation
Giving Warning That
Treachery Will Be Vigor-
ouSIy Prosecuted,
RESIDENT ALIENS ARE
AMENABLE TO STATUTE
Lists Acts Held by Federal
Courts to Be TreasonabIei
to Withhold Information Is
Crime,
tsv MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wr~sl

tsv MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrTEl
Washington, April l6.-All persons
in the United States, citizens and
aliens, are warned in a proclamation
issued today by President Wilson that
reasonable acts or attempts to shield
those committing such acts, will be
vigorously prosecuted by the govern
ment.
The proclamation defines treason,
citing statutes, provisions of the con-
stitution and decisions of the courts,
and declares that the acts described
will be regarded as reasonable wheth-
er committed within the borders of
the United States or elsewhere.
Far-reaching importance attaches
to the direction of the warning to
aliens and the declaration that resi-
foIlt aliens we'll as citizens owe az
legiance to the United States, and
therefore are equally subject to the
laws against treason and like crimes.
AT war, the United States is in a
very different position from neu-
trail Bomb plotters now may be
gripped with an iron hand. Not only
are conspirators themselves subject to
heavy penalties but anyone, even
German resident who has knowledge
of reasonable acts and fails to make
known the facts to the authorities may
be sent to prison for seven years and
fined $1,000 for misprision of treason.
Presidents Proclamation.
The presidents proclamation fol-
lows:
whereas, all persons in the United
States. citizens as well as aliens.
should be informed of the penalties
which they will incur for any failure
to bear true allegiance to the United
States;
Now, therefore, 7, Woodrow Will
son, president of the United states,
hereby issue this proclamation to call
especial attention TO the following pro-
visions of the constitution and the
laws of the United States:
Section of article III of the con-
stitution provides in part: Treason
against the United States shall consist
only in levying war against them, or
in adhering to their enemies, giving
them aid and comfort
''The criminal code of the United
States provides:
" Section Whoever owing allie
glance to the United States, levies war
against them or adheres to their ene7
mics, giving them aid and comfort
within the United States or elsewhere,
is guilty of treason.
"'Section 2--Whoever is convicted
of treason shall suffer death: or at
the discretion of the court. shall be
imprisoned not less than five years
and fined not less than 10000, to be
levied and collected out of any or
all of his property, real and personal,
IL. 1. l., IL
of committing such treason, any sale
or conveyance to the contrary not
withstanding. and every person so
convicted of treason shall, moreover
be incapable of holding any office un-
der the United States.
Misprision Defined.
Section 3-Whoever, owing al
1egiance to the United States and hav-
ing knowledge of the commission Of
any treason against them conceals and
does not, as soon as may be, disclose
and make known the same to the
president Or to some judge of the
United States, or to the governor or
to some judge or justice of a particu-
lar state, is guilty of misprision of
treason and shall be imprisoned not
more than seven years and fined not
more than $1,000.
Section s. If two or more per-
sons in any state or territory, or in
any place subject to the jurisdiction
of the United States, conspire to over
throw, put down or destroy by force
the government of the United States,
or to levy war against them, or to op-
pose by force the authority thereof,
or by force to prevent, hinder, or de-
lay the execution of any law of the
United States or by force to seize,
take, or possess any property of the
United States contrary to the author"
ity thereof. they shall each be fined
not more than $1,000, or imprisoned
not more than six years or both
The courts of the United States
have stated the following acts to bel
treasonable:
Acts Held to BE Treason.
The use or attempted use of any
force or violence against the govern
ment of the United States or its mill
tary or naval forces.
The acquisition, use or disposal of
any property with knowledge that 1T
is to be, or with intent that it shall
be of assistance to the enemy in their