El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-26

treaty
Cites German Violations.
This position of the government Of
F! the United States which might, under
( other conditions be different. is due
! TO the repeated violations by Germany
! Of the treaty of 1928 and the articles
Of the treaties Of 1855 and 1879 revised
1 by the treaty Of 1SeS. 1t is not neces-
/ sary TO narrate in detail these viola
I tiOns for the attention of the German
! government has been called to the cir
/ cumstances of each instance of viola
| ton but 1 may here refer to certain
! Of them briefly and in general terms
Gives Specific Instances
Since the sinking of the American
{ ship William p. Frye for the carriage
! OF contra band there have been per
similar unwarranted attacks upon and
I destruction Of numerous American
I vessels for the reason. as alleged. that
I they were engaged in transportation of
| articles of contraband, Notwithstanding
| and in disregard of article IS of the
/ treaty Of 1893 that no such articles
(Of contraband) carried in the vessels
I or by the subjects or citizens Of either
party TO the enemies Of the other shall
/ be deemed contra band so as to induce
cOnfiscation or condemnation and a loss
I Of property to individuals And that
in the case of a vessel stopped
! for articles of CONTRA band. if the mas
| ter of the vessel stopped Will deliver
out the goods supposed to be Of contra
band nature. he shall be permitted to
I do it and the vessel shall not in that
case be carried into any port or further
detained but shall be allowed TO pro-
coed on her voyage"
Another Violation of Treaty.
In addition TO the sinking of Amer
; can vessels. foreign merchant vessels
carrying American citizens and Amer
lean property have been sunk by Ger
man submarines without warning and
without any ADEQUATE security for the
safety of the I'd n
pensation for the destruction of the
property by such action. notWithStand-
ing the solemn engagements OF article
l. OF the treaty OF 1879 that all per-
sons belonging TO any vessels Of war,
public or private. who shall modest or
insult in any manner whatever, the
people. vessel or effects Of the other
party shall be responsible in their per-
| sons and property for damages and
interests, sufficient security for which
shall be given by all commanders OF
private armed vessels before they are
commissioned" And Notwithstanding
the further stipulation of article Il,
Of the treaty Of 1873. that the free in
tercOurse and commerce of the sub
jects or citizens of the party remain
ing neutral with the belligerent powers
shall not be interrupted
Obligations Are Disregarded.
"Disre garding these obligations. the
German government has proclaimed
certain zones Of the high seas in which
il declared without reservation that ali
SHIPS lUEluulIk LnOSt OF MEuLLdlS, VIII
be sunk and in those zones German
submarines have, in fact, in accordance
with this declaration, ruthlesSly SUNK
merchant vessels and jeOpardized or ,
destroyed the lives of American citi- /
zens on board.
Americans Detained in Germany.
MOREOVER. since the severance Of re-
latiOns between the United States and |
Germany, certain American citizens in |
Germany have been prevented from re- !
moving from the country. While this F;
IS not violation of the terms Of the |
TeaueS mentioned, II Is disregard {
OF the reciprocal liberty of intercourse
between the two countries in time Of ,
peace and cannot be taken otherwise !
than as an indication Of the purpose
on the part Of the German government /
to disregard in the event of war. the {
similar liberty of action provided Tor I
in article % Of the treaty Of 149S-the 1
very article which il is now proposed /
to interpret and supplement almost
wholly in the interests of the larger
number Of German subjects residing IN
the United States and enjoying in their
persons or property the protection OF
the United States government
This article provides in effect that
merchants Of either country residing
in the other shall be allowed a stated I
time IN which TO remain to settle their
affairs and to depart freely, carrying
of all their effects without mOlesta-
ton or hindrance, and women and
children. artisans and certain others
may continue their respective employ
ments and shall not be molested in
their persons OF property
Germany Would Enlarge Scope
1T is now proposed by the imperial
German government to enlarge the
scope of this article so as TO grant TO
German subjects and German property
remaining in the United States In time
of war the same treatment in many
respects as that enjoyed by neutral
subjects and neutral property in the
United States
Disregard of Courtesy.
In view OF the dear violations by !
the German authorities of the plain
term Of the treaties in question,
concluded on the mutual I'M
derSl anc'ng tnat the oollsatons tnere-
under would be faithfully kept; III
view further of the disregard Of the !
c2ncns OF international courtesy and
the comfy OF nations in the treatment
Of Innocent American citizens in Ger
many. the government of the United
States cannot preCeiTe any advantage
which would flow from further en-
gagements; even though they were
merely declaratory of international /
law, entered into with the imperial
German government in regard to the
meaning Of any of the articles OF these
treaties or as supplementary to them. !
In these circumstances, therefore, the
eoye rnIr eat Of the United States de-
clines T. enter into the special protocol !
proT Osed by the German government"
Germany Proposed New Treaty.
The German note also made public
tCCay was regarded by officials as
proposing 4 rev treaty. Ma
tiOnals of either country resident in the
other would IN case of war. have been
free from iEternment. mt st would have
been entitled TO remain Indefinitely and
those seeking L lea-e would have been |
free II DO so with oil their property. !
E2emy property. Specifically including
merchant vessels. " Cuid have been free (
from all sequestration except under I
laws apulyIrg to neutrals also. while I
contracts and patents would not have I
been cancelled. sUsI ended or declared |
void
May Use Canadian Plan.
The status of Germans in this country .
is not held TO be affected by the re- !
fusal to reaffirm the Ola treaties and
there viii be no general internment or