The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-11
GtRnAA PROPERTY
SAFE IN AMERICA
Though Tcutons Seized Belgian Goods
This Country Would Respect
Law Of Nations.
ENGLAND SET PRECEDENT
Commission There Has Charge OF
Allen Property and VIII Hold 1t
Until the War Ends--Germsn Con-
suls May Not Withdraw.

Property rights Of Germans In
this country who are not naturaiize1
american citizens will be as thoroughly
projected In case of war as they are IN
times or peace. Germans. as otner
Aliens, are permitted to hold real
estate In New York, and that posses
sion Will be held as inviolate as per-
sonal property.
The only general exception" said
Henry w. Taft. of Cadwalader' WICK
ersham & Taft. would be the posses
SION or property which might be
classed a. contraband or the use OF
any property for hostile acts against
the country OF their residence. This
security In property is not only gen
orally recognized in International law.
but is assured to the owners by the
federal and state laws as well. In
the case OF property held here by
Germans residing In their own country
the situation ID somewhat different.
These properties may be ships stocks,
bonds and other securities. England
has solved the problem for the pres
emit by appointing a committee or
commission to take charge OF all these
kinds of property owned by residents
OF Germany, and they are being held
subject to adjudication at the close of
the war.
In respect to personal property by
alien residents severe criticism has
been brought against Germany for
selling banks and financial institutions
In Belgium. That was clearly against
the recognised law. but Germany has
been in the habit OF doing those things
Tho various German consuls in this
country will undoubtedly stay at their
posts until actual war Is declared. The
IF n vafn tfnnR dnea
not necessarily mean that the consuls
should withdraw. Our country did not
withdraw its consuls in Mexico when
we recalled our am bassador. The or
binary trade relations through the
consular Offices will go on an usual in
the interval preceding actual war. In
diplomatic relations there will be the
Inconvenience OF transac citing business
through the intermediary of some neu-
trail representative. ,
This Is time" added Mr.. Taft,
who la a brother of ex-President VIII
liam H Taft. when every loyal
straint ana carefully weigh his words
Either Germany desired war with us
or It gravely misjudges the temper OF
the American people. I hope the lat
ter superstition Is correct. If II lie
war may be avoided. The termina =
ton OF diplomatic relations may pos
sihly make Germany realize that her
recent communication attempted to
impose on a neutral nation conditions
which were intolerable. In that case
she may modify her attitude and thus
avoid war. But abe has made this
, extremely difacult by the uncompro.
missing character of her note. II she
does not change her position and the
suspension of diplomatic relations con.
tinues an overt act may at any time
produce a state Of war"
Charles Thaddeus Terry, forme,
president OF the uniform laws com
mission said in discussing the rights
OF German property owners that resi-
dents here would be protected no
| only by the federal law, but by tn,
, various state laws recognized by the
federal government