The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-06
1906 after the murder Of King Alex
ander and Queen Draga.

1906 after the murder Of King Alex
ander and Queen Draga.
After the breaking of diplomatic
relations comes the possibility of other
measures termed ''non-amicable
modes of redress which are also
measures short Of war" These modes
OF redress may include reprisals, re-
taliations, non-intercOurse aid display
Of force; and still there may be 40
state of war. There are precedents
Of various sort and range for sucn
action.
No Danger at Once.
The rights of Germans in the Uni
ted States and of Americans in Ger
many are practically unaffected by
the severance of diplomatic relations.
No treaties are terminated or sus-
pended but remain In full force and
effect unless either government later
decides to denounce them, which un-
der international practice generally
calls for a notice Of one year.
German consuls in the United States
and American consuls In Germany
holding their places by virtue Of treat
les continue to perform their usual
functions but they no longer work
under supervision Of diplomatic Of
icers.
There is no change in commercial
, relations, already badly crippled by
the war. individuals and corporations
may continue their usual affairs, pro-
vided they do not deal in contra
band and their obligations are as
binding as ever. The courts still re-
main open to them for redress but
! they have no facility for direct ill
tervention of their diplomatic Off
cials. They may, however, be rep
resented by the diplomats Of IT,
friendly power selected to care for
the interests of the respective govern
ments.
There should be no sequestration or
{ confscation Of private property either
in the United States or Germany, al
though it may be taken for Use under
certain circumstances.
The 50 or more German merchan.
ships tied up in American ports may
be used by the United States, but the
German owners ultimately must be
compensated. The ships, scattered in
! the ports of continental United States,
Puerto Rico and the Pacific island pos
sessions, including the Philippines
Comprise some Of the best known
ocean liners and aggregate 62S,837
gross tons. Only in case Of war Is
there possibility of their being abso-
lutely confscated, and even then such
action is doubtful, for the United
States, in the world court of nations,
has been leading exponent of the in-
volatility of private property.
Mails Still to Move.
! Mails will continue to move under
the Geneva convention and other ea-
listing special conventions. There
should be no restriction upon the free
movement of travellers between the
two countries other than the fixed
policy of the United States to issue no
passports to Americans wishing to
visit the war zone unless they have
pressing business there.
In fact, so far as individuals are
! concerned the status remains practt-
cally unchanged by break in dip
lomatic relations. Upon the conduct
of Americans in Germany and the cou-
duct of the Germans and German
sympathizers in the United States de-
pends the attitude Of the respective
governments regarding them
There is, however, one relation be-
tween the United States and Germany
which ceases through diplomatic rup-
ture. 1t is the humanitarian task OF
guarding the welfare of soldiers in
the prison camps of their enemies
and the care of German civilians de-
tanned in the entente countries.
This vast task which is being per-
formed by merican diplomatic repre-
sentatives in England, in the French
camps in Africa and in the Russian
Siberia, will have to be confided to
other hands Likewise, the welfare
of British, French, Russian and other
allied prisoners in Germany, Austria
and Turkey will pass to some other
neutral power: The ministering hand
Of the United States which has cared
for these men, lost to their homes and
friends, which has brought them food,
clothing and medicine, and helped to
cheer a desolate existence. will be
withdrawn. Some ore else Will have
to take up the cause Of humanity on
land.