The Elbert County tribune., 1917-03-16
The Church Flag the Only One
That Floats Above Old Glory
ARMED NEUTRALITY DURING PAST WARS

thorize provisional army, to arrest
and expel aliens. to authorize the de-
Tense of merchant ships against
French war vessels and to enable the
president to borrow money. July 7,
179S, President Adams approved an
act reciting that since treaties repeat
edly had been violated by France, just
claim for reparation refused and
system of predatory violence" pur-
sued by the French government, the
United States was "of right freed and
exonerated from the stipulations of
the treaties" and that these compacts
should not henceforth be regarded as
legally obligatory on the government
or citizens of the United States.
Later in the same year further pro-
vision was made for augmenting the
army and George Washington accept
ed the chief command. The attorney
general held that In view of the acts
of France and the legislation by con-
gress there not only existed IAN actual
maritime war between France and the
United States, but a maritime war au-
thorized by both nations"
The difficulty with France was not
settled for many years. Thirty years
later France agreed to pay 25,0OO 900
francs ($5,000,000) to satisfy American
claims, although many years before
that time her depredations on Ameri-
can commerce and American reprisals
had ceased.
Like Senator Falls Bill.
The acts of congress in 179s were
In the aggregate somewhat like the
bill introduced in the senate recently
by Senator Fall. The president then
was authorized to instruct and direct
commanders of United States war ves-
sells to seize and bring into any port
of the United States any armed vessel
found lowering on the coasts of the
United States and committing depre-
dations on American ships. They also
were instructed to retake any cap
tured American ship.
Another act authorized merchant
ships to be armed and to take the
same steps against foreign war ves-
sells. Communication with France was
forbidden and French vessels were
prohibited from entering the ports of
the United States.
The bill introduced by Senator Fall
authorizes the president to instruct
and direct the commanders of the
armed vessels belonging to the United
States to extend protection to the ves-
sells and property of the citizens of the
United States and to seize, take and
bring into port or to destroy If unable
to seize any such armed vessels of
either of the central powers and par
ticularly of the imperial German gov
ernment which shall have committed
or which shall be found threatening to
commit depredations on the vessels
belonging to the citizens of the United
States or contrary to international law
committing or threatening to commit
depredations upon other vessels upon
which are being conveyed citizens to
the United States or their property.
and also to retake any ship or vessel
of any citizen or citizens of me United
States which may have been captured
by any such armed vessel of the said
central powers or either of them"
Against Search and Seizure.
1t also would provide for defense of
vessels against search and seizure and
in the event of declaration of war
against the United States or of immi-
nent danger of war before the session
Of the next congress would authorize
the president to rnise an additional
army of 100000 men.