New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-08
Lansing Says Lochner's
German Citizen Move"
Would Break Code
HAD URGED HUNDRED
WIRELESS MESSAGES
Ford Peace Commissions
Secretary Regrets Curb
on Free Speech

A plan for German citizens in the
United States to use their influence
with the Kaiser in the interests OF
peace was halted yesterday, when Sec
rotary Lansing drew attention to an
article in the Federal Penal Code which
provides fine of $4,000 or three years
Imprisonment for holding criminal
communication" with foreign govern
ments.
Louis p Lochner, secretary of the
Ford Peace Commission, was sponsor
for the plan. He wanted one hundred
Of the leading Germans in the United
States to send these wireless messages
to the Kaiser:
Asked a Modification
1--WE American citizens of German
blood" each was to say, urge your
majesty from the depths of our hearts
practically to modify the submarine
blockade order so as to avoid war with
America. The cause of peace can only
be retarded by plunging another one
hundred million into the cataclysm."
The one hundred Germans were wary
of taking this step, however, without
the approval of the government, so Mr.
Lochner wired Secretary Lansing, ask
ing him if there was any objection &c
the communications of private indi-
viduals with governments with whom
this government has broken off diplo-
matte relations"
To the first telegram Mr.. Lochner
says he received no response. To his
third, however, he received the follow
ing:
''In reply to your communications re.
fer you TO Section 8, known as Federal
Penal Code, United States statutes al
large, Volume 80, part /, page l,O8S
Robert Lansing"
Section Is Found
Miss Elizabeth Freeman, a pacifst
herself, spent the greater part of the
day in the New York University Law
Library yesterday hunting down the
section, which, when she found 1t, said:
Every citizen Of the United
States, whether actually residing OF
abiding within the same, or in any
foreign country, who, without the
permission or authority of the gov
eminent, directly or indirectly
commences or carries any verba
or written correspondence or inter
course with any foreign government
or any officer or agent thereof, with
an intent to influence the measures
or conduct of any foreign govern
ment, or of any officer or agent
thereof, in relation 10 any disputes
or controversies with the United
States, or to defeat the measures OF
the government of the United
States; and every person, being .
citizen of or resident within the
United States, and not duly author
lied, who cOunsels, advises or as
sists in any such correspondence
with such intent, shall be punished
by a fine of not more than $4,000
and by imprisonment during term
not less than six months nor more
than three years; but nothing in
this section shall be construed To
abridge the right Of a citizen tc
apply, himself or his agent, TO any
foreign government or the agents
thereof for redress of any injury
which he may have sustained from
such government, or any Of its
agents or subjects.
Mr.. Lochner said last night that he
had made the correspondence public
with no intention Of rejecting on Sec
rotary Lansing, but simply 10 show
to what uses the best intcutioncd laws
could be put IN times of war.
This just shows how free speech
is curbed," he explained. Imagine II
we cannot use every means in oul
power now to prevent war, what Tho
condition will be if war is actually
declared -