The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-27
j. 5. fLATlY REFUSES
GtRnANY'S PROPOSAL
President Dispatches Strong Note
Hinun: Treaty OF 1928 with Prus-
sin May BE Atrogatcd
kAISER's LAW VIOLATIONS
CAUSE OF REJECTION
Episuc Is Transmitted Through Swiss
Ministcr-Declares Move Is Solely
In Interest OF Largo Number OF
Tcutons in United States.

Washington. March as--Thc
United states is seriously consid-
ciiay abrsogatins The treaty OF
1898 with Prussia. with its safe
guards for citizens OF the two
countries i'm the event OF war be-
tween them. In the strongest in
tcrnationat communication the
world has seen since the begin
ming OF the European war, the
state department today flatly re-
jected the efforts OF Germany to
secure alterations and n reaf1irm-
alton OF the treaty. declaring
Gcrmany's disregard OF interna-
tional law and the comfy OF ma
lions and her repeated violations
OF tho treaty itself had made fur
thcr engagements with Germany
OF no avail. The Violations Of
American rights at sra and tho
treatment Of American citizens
In Germany were cited by the
department as the moving reas<ns
for refusing for negotiating q new
profOcol.
The note TO Germany. transmitted
through the Swiss minister. DIR. Pau
Ritter. declared that the changes In
the old treaty sought by Germany
were solely 'in the interests OF tht
large number OF German subjects re.
siding in the United States and en-
joying in their persons or property
the protection OF the United State.
government
plain Terms Violated.
I'm view" said the note, "of thu
clear violations by the German au'
thorities OF the plain terms Of thu
treaty in question. solernnly concluded
on the mutual understanding that tho
obligations hereunder would ht
faithfully kept: in view. further. Of
the disregard Of the canons OF inter.
courtesies and the comity o,
nations in the treatment OF American
citizens in Germany. the government
OF the United States cannot perceiv,
any advantage which would now from
further engagements. even though
they were merely declaratory of in
law, entered into with thu
imperial German government in re
gard to the meaning of any OF thu
articles OF these treaties or supple
mcntary to them.
In these circumstances. therefore
the government of the United state,
declines to enter into the special pro
tocol proposed by the Imperial Ger
man government.
II feel constrained in view OF tn,
to add that this gov
eminent Is seriously considering
or not the treaty OF 1898 and
the revived articles OF 1875 and 1875
have not, in effect, been abrogatet
by the German governments fagran,
violations of their provisions for 4
would be manifestly unjust and In
equitable to require one party to ar
agreement to observe its stipulation.
and to permit the other party to dis
regard them. 1t would appear tina,
the mutually or the undertaking In.
been destroyed by the conduct OF the
German authorities"
The exact procedure necessary Il
abrogate the treaty was In doubt to,
night. Some diplomatic authorize.
believed that the state department
and the president on their own volt.
ton would not have the power to dc.
clare the agreement void. 1t was be.
lieved that the senate which ratified
the treaty would have to act to make
tn abrogatian effective