Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-27
REFUSES TO REAFF|RM
PACTs OF 1888 AND 1928
Gcrmany's CLEAR Violations" OF
Treaties Assigned as Reasons by
United States Government.
NOTE SENT THROUGH RITTER
Discloscs That Administration Is
seriously Considering" Whether
Tcutonic Conduct Has Not In Eff
fcct AbrOgated These Conventions.
tBv Associatcd press.I

tBy Associated Pressl
WASHINGTON. March 26.-Germany's
clear violations" Of the treaties of
1893 and 1928. and her disregard OF
the canons Of International courtesy
we're assigned by the United States as
reasons for refusal to rcaflirm or eX-
tend these agreements.
The note of refusal to Germany.
transmitted through DIR. Paul Ritter.
the Swiss minister. was made public
today by the State Department and
discloses that this government lis Sc
riously considering" whether Ger
many's conduct has not in effect abro-
gated those treaties.
The American note. signed by Sec
rotary Lansing. reads AS follows:
Il beg TO acknowledge the receipt
OF your note OF February 10. present
ing the proposals OF the German gov
ernment for an interpretive and sup
Elementary agreement as TO article 23
OF the treaty OF 1893. After due con
sideration. ! have TO inform YOU that
is not disposed to look with favor upon
the proposed agreement TO alter or
supplement the meaning OF article 30
government, Of the United States. which
might under other conditions be diff
ferent. is due TO tho repeated violations
by Germany OF the treaty Of 1928 and
the article OF the treaties OF 1855 and
1899 revived by the treaty OF 1898 II
is not necessary 10 narrate in detail
these violations. for the attention of
The German government has been
a. No
instance OF violation, but may here
In general terms.
NUMEROUS AMERICAN
VESSELS DESTROYED
Since the sinking OF the American
ship William I. Frye FOR the carriage
Of contraband. there have been per
petrated by the German naval forces
similar un"arranted attacks upon and
destruction OF numerous American
vessels for the reason. AS alleged. tina,
they we're engaged in transportation
OF articles OF contraband. notwithstand-
Ing and in disregard Of article 10 Of
the treaty Of 1922. that no such articles
'of contraband) carried in the vessels
or by tho subjects or citizens Of either
party 20 the enemies Of the other shall
be deemed contraband SO as TO induce
confscation condemnation and a
loss OF property 10 !udividuals' And
that In the case of a ycss.l
stopped for articles OF contraband. il
tho master OF the vessel stopped Will
deliver out the goods supposed to be
OF contraband nature he shall be adj i.
United 10 do il. and the vessel shall
not III that case be carried into any
port or further detained. but shall be
allowed TO proceed on her voyage
In addition 10 The sinking OF Amer.
lean vessels. foreign merchant vessels
carrying American citizens and Aneri-
can property have been sunk bv Ger
man submarines without warning. and
without any adequate security for the
safety OF the persons on board or
compensation for the destruction OF
the property b. such action, not,yith-
standing the solemn engagement Of ar
'icle ID OF the treaty of 1922 that all
persons belonging to any vessel OF war
PUBIC or private. who shall moles,
or insult in any manner whatever the
people. vessel or effects Of the other
party. shall he responsible In their
persons and property for damages and
interest. sufficient security for which
shall he given by all commanders of
private armed vessels before they are
commissioned. and Notwithstanding tho
further stipulation of article Il of the
treaty OF 1883 that the free intercourse
ana commerce Of the subjects or cjti-
zens OF the party remaining neutral
with the helliseren, powers shall not
be Interrupted.
GERMANY DIsREG4RDS
THESE OBLIGATIONS
i'iSregarding these obligations the
German government has proclaimed
certain zones OF the high seas in which
81 declared without reservation that
All ships. including those Of neutrals
will be sunk. aud in those zones Ger
man submarines have. in fact, in ac-
roriance with this declaration. ruth
'ess'F sunk merchant vessels and
1copardtzel or destroyed the lives Of
american "itiH.ns on unard
Moreover, since the severance Of
'e'aionS between tn" ln'sd State.' nj
Germany certain American citizens in
"ermanE nave been prevented from
removing from the country. While this
Is not violation OF the terms OF the
treaties mentioned. 1t is a disregard
or tho reciprocal liberty OF intercourse
between the two countries In time OF
peace. and cannot he taken otherwise
IMAM as an indication Of the purpose
on tho part of the German government
10 disregard in the event Of war the
similar liberty OF action provided for
In article e OF the treaty of 1899, the
very article WHICH it is now proposed
10 interpret arr supplement- almost
wholly In the& ,terests of the large
number OF c. f,an subjects residing
in the tnites f'tates and enjoying In
their pcrsor5 F,r property the protec-
ton of tht GATED States government
This artcs tirovides in effect that mer-
chants O ,.ther country residing in the