South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-26
TEUT0NS ARRAIGNED
as TREATY BREAKERS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNE) |

the meaning OF article %. Of this
treaty. This positio,l Of the gov
eminent OF the United States. which
might under other conditions be
different, is due TO the repeated vio-
lations by Germany Of the treaty of
1898 and the article Of the treaties
of 1885 and 1899 revived by the
treaty Of 1928. II is not necessary
TO narrate in detail these violations
for the attention of the German
government has been called to the
circumstances of each instance Of
violation. but / may here refer TO
certain of them briefly and in gen
eral terms
Many Unwarranted Attacks.
Since the sinking of the Amer
/ lean steamer William p. Frye. for
the carriage of contraband there
have been perpetrated by the Ger
man naval forces similar unwar-
ranted attacks upon and destruction
or numerous American vessels for
the reason, as alleged, that they
were engaged in transportation Of
articles OF contraband. notwith-
standing, and in entire disregard of
article Is. of the treaty of 1899.
In addition to the sinking Of
American vessels, foreign merchant
vessels carrying American citizens
and American property have been
sunk by German submarines with
out warning and without any ade-
quate security for the safety of
persons on board or compensation
for the destruction of property. not
withstanding the solemn engage
ment Of article Is, Of the treaty of
1899"
Moreover, since the severance of
relations between the United States
and Germany. certain American
citizens in Germany have been pre-
vented from removing freely from
the country. While this is not
violation of the terms of the treaties
mentioned, il is a disregard of the
reciprocal liberty of intercourse be-
tween the two countries in times OF
peace and cannot be taken otherwise
than an indication of a purpose on
the part of the German government
TO disregard in the event of war
the similar liberty of action pro-
vided for in article %, of the treaty
of 1799-the very article which it is
now proposed to interpret and sup
plement almost wholly in the in
terest of the large number of Ger
man subjects residing in the United
States and enjoying in their per-
sons or property the protection Of
the United States government. Z"
Treaties of No Value.
I'm view of the clear violations
by the German authorities of the
plain terms of the treaties in ques-
ton, solemnly concluded on the mu-
tual understanding that the obliga-
tons hereunder would be faithfully
kept, in view of the further disre-
| gard of the canons of international
courtesy and the comfy of nations
in the treatment of innocent Amer
lean citizens in Germany, the gov
eminent of the United States can
not perceive any advantage which
would flow from further engage
ments, even though they were
merely declaratory of international
/ law entered into WITH the lInDeTlat
| German government in regard to
the meaning of any Of the articles
of these treaties. or as a supple
mentary to them. In these circum-
stances, therefore, the government
Of the United States declines to
enter into the support protocol pro-
posed by the imperial government.
II feel constrained in view of the
circumstances to add that this gov
eminent is seriously considering
whether or not the treaty of 1928
and whether the revised articles OF
the treaties Of 1855 and 1893 have
not been in effect abrogated by the
German governments fragrant vio-
lations of their provisions. for it
would be manifestly Unjust and in
equitable TO require one party to an
agreement to observe it's stipulations
and 10 permit the other party to
disregard them. It would appear
that the mutually OF the undertake
ing has been destroyed by the con-
duct OF the German authorities.
Accept, etc. (Signed)
ROBERT LANSING"