Connecticut western news., 1917-05-24
GERMANY MUST
 FREE PRISONERS
U. s. Demands Rights Under
 Old PruSSidn Treaties.
MAY ABRoGaTE BOTH FACTS

WHl HDNUCni L DU " TAU 0 ceVeraI Hundred Americans Reported Held In Belgium and the Empire, ln- cIuding Wa. Relief Workers and Sail
 OTIS Taken From Raided Merchant Ships-Many Naturalized Here Have Renounced Citizenship.
 Americans are being detained as pris- oners of war by Germany in Belgium and in Germany, it was announced by the state department
 A. demand has been made upon Ger many for a complete and definite state ment of her attitude concerning the de parture of American citizens. This de- mand has been made through the Span ish ambassador at Berlin, who repre- SentS American interests in Germany. The action of the German govern ment is in complete violation of the old PruSsian-American treaties of 1790 and 1928, which provide certain rights for nationals of either nation in the other in time of war. One of these rights is permission to depart at will for nine months after the war declaration. The United States has scrupulously ohserv- ed its obligations having acted prompt. Iy on all applications of Germans to leave the United States
 Among the Americans detained a~p said to be ref wol&2rs in Belgium. who stayed behind to @ather rp the loose ends. of the work at the time Brand Whitlock and the majority Of the Belgian relief commission were withdrawn. 7eprisals Are Planned.
 At the outbreak of the war there were some 5000 Americans in Ger many, including several consular off cials. These latter reached Switzer- land, with the exception of one who was i'll. About 800 Americans left Germany Of the remaining 2,500 a number were of German birth, natu- -ralized in the United States. State de- partment officials today expressed the belief that the majority of these hy- phenated Americans had probably re- newed their German allegiance. The other bonafide Americans, how ever, apparently have been unable to leave Germany, despite their efforts to do so. German inspired dispatches had tried to make it appear Americans were being held under no restraint in Germany other than the usual police surveillance to which all aliens are subjected. 'ssA# e.s.
 It is strongly intimated at the state department that if Germany does not immediately reverse her position and allow any Americans who wish to de 1 part immediate reprisals will be adopt ed by the United States Not only will no Germans be allowed to leave this country. but further means, going as far as imprisonment, may be adopted. United States Has Kept Pledges. | The state department has made no concealment of it's belief that Germany has violated the Prusso-American trea- l ties. but so far this government has made no efforts to denounce the in struments and lived by its own pledges.
 The first violation of the treaties by Germany was the destruction of the American sailing ship William P. Frye by the commerce raider Prinz Eitel Friedrich now the United States steamship Yon Steuben, in the opinion of state department authorities. Other violations were numerous, eliminating | in the unrestricted submarine warfare which cost the lives of Americans and resulted in widespread destruction of their property.
 1 For these reasons when Germany at tempted to force protocol to the trea- ties reaffirming certain sections which dealt with the liberties of nationals of either country within the boundaries
 of the other during war and even
 sought to expand and enlarge upon
 some of those proyisions-entirely to the advantage of Germans in America.
 be it said-the United States rejected
 the proposition f1atly.
 Probabilities today are that early
 congress action toward abrogating the treaties off the slate will be asked.
 This will leave the nationals of both
 countries on an even plane, and the United States will be in q position to legislate concerning the treatment of
 alien enemies instead of being bound by treaty obligations which Germany
 does not consider binding on herself.
 Besides the American civilians de-
 tained Germany is holding about 130
 other Americans in her prisoner camps They are for the most part sailors cap. tured on British or other ships by Ger
 man raiders or submarines.