The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-08
PROTECTION FOR
NEUTRAL NATIONS
New International Code is Be-
ing Worked Out by Leading
Experts of North and
South America.
WILSON rs ORIGINATOR
Present Laws Favor Sei!sgerc'es Tcc
Much, Giving Neutral OnlookeP
Unjust Share Of
Recognition
EBy Robert J. Bender. United Press
Staff i.nIfs-sdsiuHSnt

FBy Robert J. Bender. United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a new IN
ternational code to protect the "lib-
erty Of neutrals" is being worked out
by leading North and South Amer1-
can experts on the basis Of lessons
drawn from the present war.
President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing are the original proponents.
Ways and means Of formulating In
terms the new principles. will be dis
cussed at meeting Of international
lawyers in Havana, Cuba, January %,
the United Press learned today.
German submarine warfare and
British commercial interfefenoes are
said to be. tho main reasons behind
the move.
The new "code" WIN endsavor tn
make It impossible for the world ever
again to have a "Lusitania case" in.
voiving ncutrais.
It viii try to prevent such trespasa
on neutral rights as Great Britain
has practtced In her mail seizures, de.
tention of neutral ships and the like
It Is the contention of President
Wilson and Secretary Lansing thai
"tle present code rules. defining rela
tions between belligerents and neu.
trails. reflect over aPpreciations OF
the needs OF belligerents."
They believe the process Of treating
the subject OF neutrality should be
reversed and dealt with from the
point of view Of the neutral.
As result, Secretary Lansing
some months ago requested the
American Institute OF International
Law to study the problem of neutral
rights and duties seeking to form,l-
late in terms, the principle OF under
lying relations of belligerency to neu-
trality, rather than the express rules
governing the conduct Of a nation at
war to a nation at peace"
Today it was learned a project will
be submitted January 22 at Havana,
as a basis of approaching discussion
Of ways and means" to carry out
Lansing's suggestions.
Details of the projects are withheld
pending the meeting Of the institute
in Havana which was called there at
the invitation of the Cuban govern
ment. Lansing recommended, how
ever, that the subject be divided into
two parts, namely, ''the rights Of neu-
trails on the high seas and the duties
of neutrals dependent upon territorial
Jurisdiction"
The institute, being composed OF
neutral nations, is especially fitted to
do this from the proper point of View
said in his communication,
"and with the definite purpose Of pro-
tecting the liberty of neutrals from un-
tustifiable restrictions on the high
seas and from the imposition OF need
less burdens in preserving their neu-
trality on land"
It is pointed out today that the pres
ent work is not done for the purpose
Of enforcing any new "code" upon the
belligerents should the present war
continue but to be put forth when
peace comes as substitute for present
rules, which according to President
Wilson have made the position of neu-
trails in this war well night intoler-
able"
Secretary Lansing, when he sugges-
ted a study Of the subject by the ihsti-
tute set forth in a memorandum the
following opinions based upon exper-
fences suffered by this government in
its diplomatic intercourse with belliE>
erents since 1914:
These rules governing relations