Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-02-12
American Ambassador Re-
fused to Back Water and
Paper Men Stood By.
SOUGHT OLD TREATY
Even Possible Detention Of
Americans in Germany
Make No Difference.

tOPEiINGI:N. Feb. f1.-Nia Lon
don, Feb. II. i:i5 y. m.)-lhc Ger
man governments attitude in en-
dcaVOring to induce Ambassador Gc-
rhrd 10 sign n protocol rcaffirming the
Old-timc treaties with the United
States regarding mutual protection OF
nationals In ease OF hostilitics and the
hints OF possible detention of Amcri-
can newspaper men as hostages, was
undoubtedly influenced by alarm'st
dispatches from the United States re-
gardn% treatment of German citizens
ana property there. the Associated
Press correspondent, who left Berlin
saturday morning and now has
reached Ioprnhagen, il able 20 state.
As soon ~ rcassurng adNiccs were
received from the United States. and
rs sCon, too, as the German govern
mcnt saw that the attempt to ncgo-
tate protocol rcratifying the treaty
OF 1893 with additions and expansions.
had failed, IL gracefully rcccdcd from
its position and nothing further was
Htsifu OF newspaper men AZ i'StiS'S'
TRIED TO BLUFF THRU.
The protocol submitted To Amhas-
sador Gerard contained, besides for
NAL rcratilication of the treaty pro-
visions of 1893 and 1928, regarding
mutual treatment of nationals caught
I'm bclIigcrcnt country in the case
of war IL number of important ad-
ditions and expansions.
I, provided that merchants should
be allowed To continue their business
and retain thcir residences until the
end of the war unmolcsted; that no
law affecting the validity OF contracts
should he applied to Germans IN
America and Americans in Germany.
and that all patents should be invio-
Iatc--a question of Importance in view
of the high value, II not the indispcn-
sihiiity OF certain German patents in
the manufacture of munitions and cx-
plosiNc>.
Quite as trenchant in its bearing on
the pending problem was the proNi'
sion of an instrument which AmbaS-
sador Gerard was asked TO sign specl-
emy property should be exempt from
seizure CT restrictions in its use beyond
those applying to all property, but That
enemy ships in ports of the opponent
should not be seized during the war
nor forced 20 ,eave port unless 10
sail under safe conduct and guaran-
tee of exemption from seizure bv the
allied bclli gerents for a home port
Provision also was made for sate
conduct when it was necessary to
move ships from one port To another
in the same country. The protocol
forbade explicitly any intcrnnent or
restrictions upon the liberty or move
meut Of enemy nationals within the
limits Of the opponent country and for
confirmation Of certain articles Of The
Hague conventions particular as to
treatment of the personnel of enemy
merchant ships captured or caught
within an opponent country.
Gerard Baked.
Ambassador Gerards refusal to
sign the treaty after he had ceased
to perform his ambassadorlal func~
- ucns or to telegraph for Instructions
unless he was permitted to use code,
lcd Count Nlontcglas of the foreign Of
flee 10 hint that refusal 20 sign the
protocol might materially affect the
status of Americans in Germany and
~
specifically. of tho American CORE
spondents whom Ambassador Gerard
desired 10 take out with him and
whose safety was apparently thot to
carry particular weight in American
public opinion.
This mtmation OF the possibility OF
dotairing Americans, even under the
status of rupture OF diplomatic re-
Hations. not war. and the use OF news
y paper representatives as supposedly
important pieces upon the diplomatic
chess board, caused Mr.. Gerard to de-
clare roundlv that he could not he n
PARTY to "any such pressure and mat
he doubted whether any of the news
paper men could be "sandbagged' or
influenced in any way by considera
uons of pcrsoal safety or convenience,
and that he must persist in mis- earlier
expressed standpoint regarding these
negotiations.
From that point nothing further
was heard of the protocol or of the
poss ,ility of OBTAINING Americans.
The German governments attitude
was undoubtedly influenced by the
nress dispatches with which the Ger
man newspapers were then being
flooded asserting that German ships
were being seized and their crews IN
termed in the United states, these dis
patches being virtually the only new!
which the government was then re-
ceiying. no official communication:
from Count Won Bernstorff having
come since several days before the
rupture Of relations.
Reports Incorrect.
As soon as authoritative informa
ton was received that the reports
that the confiscation of ships and
the intornment of sailors were incor
rect and that no obstacles were beint
placed I'm the way of Count Won Bern
storff's departure under safe con
duct arrangements for the issuance
Of passports to the ambassador an,
his suite began to proceed will
marked acceleration, and the foreig
office officials, who hitherto woul'
sneak only with vague indefinitenes
OF the probable date for the departure