The Washington times., 1917-04-17
DEATH FOR SPIES,
. AMERICAS DECREE
Any Enterprise With United
States as Objective Victim
Proclaimed Treason.

and those citizens found guilty of
reasonable offenses"
This was the declaration of an 'Ad-
ministration official today with refer
ence to q proclamation by President
Wilson.
The President warned those en-
gagged In an anti-American enterprise
that death IL a penalty imposed by
statute for reasonable acts. That
will be the fate Of offenders against
this Government.
Attorney General Gregory is help
ing to prepare cases against German
plotters and alleged ringlsaders Of
the spy system
There 10 q belief that comparatively
short sentences and other semblances
of lsnisncy have not had the effect
desired to diminish German activities.
Text Of Proclamation ,
The Presidents proclamation fol-
lows:
TEXT Of the Preelamstisn-
The Presidents proclamation follow:
'whereas. all persons In the United
States. citizens as well as aliens. should
be informed of the penalties which they
viii incur for any failure to true allie
glance to the United States:
Now, therefore, /, Woodrow Wilson.
President of the United States. hereby
issue this proclamation to call especial
attention to the following provisions of
the Constitution and the laws Of the
United States:
Section to 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
Criminal Code Provisions.
The criminal code of the United
States provides:
Section L Whoever. owing al
legiance to the United States, levies war
against them or adheres to their enc
mics, giving them aid and comfort with
in the United States or elsewhere. Il
guilty Of treason.
"'Section 3 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 $4,000, to
be levied on and collected out OF any
or all of his property, real and per
sonal, of which he was the owner at
the time OF committing such treason,
any sale or conveyance to the con-
trary Notwithstanding; and every per
son SO convicted OF treason shall.
moreover, be incapable of holding any
office under the United States.
Penalty for Coneealment.
"'Section 3. Whoever. owing allegi-
ance to the United States and having
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 particu-
lar State. is guilty of misprision OF
treason and shall be imprisoned not
more than seven years and fined not
more than 81 900.
"'Section 6. II two or more per
sons in any State or Territory. or In
any place subject to the Jurisdiction
of the United States, conspire to
overthrow, put down, or TO destroy
by force the Government or the
United States. or to levy war against
them, or to oppose by force the
authority thereof. or by force to pre-
vent. hinder, or delay the execution
of any law Of the United states or
by force to seize. take or possess any
property of the United States con-
trary to the authority thereof. they
shall each be finNd not more than
s5 600. or imprisoned not smore than
six years. or both
Court Decisions Cited.
"The courts of the United States
have stated the following acts to
be reasonable:
"aThe use or attempted use OF any
force or violence against the Govern
ment Of the United States, or its
military OF naval forces:
1.-THE acquisition, use or disposal
NJ any property with knowledge that
n is TO be, or with intent that It shall
he Of assistance to the enemy In their
hostIIities against the United States:
"EThe performance of any act or
the publication of statements or In
formation which will give or supply,
IN any way, aid and comfort to the
enemies of the United States:
1.-The direction, aiding, counseIins'
or countenancing, OF any OF the fore
going acts
Misprision of Treason.
"Such acts are held to be treason
able whether committed with the
United States or elsewhere: whether
committed by a citizen of the United
States or by an alien domiciled, or re-
siding IN the United States, ina5mrrh
as resident aliens, as well as citizens,
owe allegiance to the United States
and its laws.
ANY such citizen or alien who has
knowledge OF the commission of such
acts and conceals and does not make
known the facts to the officials named
in section 3 OF the Penal Code, Is
guilty OF misprision OF treason.
Warns All Citizens.
"And I hereby proclaim and warn
all citizens OF the United States,
and all aliens. owing allegiance to
the Government OF the United States.
to abstain from committing any and
all acts which would constitute a vio-
lation of any of the laws herein set
forth: and I further proclaim and
warn all persons who may commit
such acts, that they will be vigorous
ly prosecuted therefor.