Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-10
ASKS INJUNCTION
TO retain CABLES
IN. PACIFIC OCEAN
Company Pleads for Order
Restraining Postmaster
General Burleson.
INTERNATIONAL, LAW
VIOLATED, is CHARGE
Declared No Consent Had Been
Obtained From Other
Nations.
LINES ARE PRIVATE PROPERTY.
English Owners Order Their Agents
10 Disregard Any Notifications Tn
less Coming From Home Office.


NEW YORK. December g.-The Com
merc'ai Pacific Cable Company. allied
win the Commercial Cable Company
ASKED Tor an injunction in the Federal
court to-day restraining Postmaster
'ehefa! Bur'cson from further control
"' It's 10000 miles Of cable between
Han Francisco and China Japan and
the Philippine Islands
violation OF international law by
hurieson is charged In the complaint
which asserts that the United States
nan not obtained consent to the seizure
rom the nations upon whose territory
me cables land. II is further alleged
such consent would be unconstitutional
without formal treaty approved by
the Senate.
This. contention is upheld. the com
pany declares, by information from it's
Commercial Gable Company reprcsen-
istirSs there TO make no changes at
the direction of the american Post
naSter-General without first submitting
them to that department for approval
Inc biiI OF complaint filed for the
hughes and William w. Cook. as coun-
rcl declares:
That the United states government.
IN seizing the cables. has not secured
'he consent OF the foreign nations on
whose territories the cables land. ac-
corhing 70 the company's information
THAT this constitutes violation OF
me principles Of international law pro-
I!ding that one nation shall not en-
eroach on or seize any part of the ter
iitcTy OF another nation.
That all nations are very properly
jealous OF landings on their soil OF
rables controlled or owned by other
nations. and forbid it because IL
ls liable to lead TO International COM
That, even II conscnt Of the other
ra'ions 10 the seizure OF the cables and
landings upon conditions satisfactory
10 them was secured. such terms and
conditions, pertaining as they would to
the occupation by the government OF
foreign territory: would constitute cor the
Constitution OF the United States. can
be made only by and with the con,
consent has not been obtained. and that
this Is Il violation OF the Constitution
of the United States.
HOLD THAT CABLES
ARI; PRIVATE PROPERTY
THAT the cables arc private property
ana have been taken by the defendant.
no, for public use. and that no pro-
vision has been made for any judicial
inquiry ar to the necessity for such
se.ZuT"
That the seizure is arbitrary. in
violation OF the United States Constitu-
ton guaranteeing due process Of law :"
Commercial Pacific officials stated to-
night that they expected Mr.. Burleson
fc make voluntary answer to the case.
II he does not, they declare. they viii
serve MIN by publication. as in the
ease Of the Commercial Gable Company.
M orders had been received from
the PostmaSterGcne they stated.
aud the company was continuing ana
JlanninE 10 continue it's business as
though its lines had not been seized.
icOrge Crecl. chairman of the Com
mittce on Public Information. vino is
20 attend the peace conference in Paris,
viii receive the same treatment ac-
Corded any newspaper or press aSSo-
citation correspondent. Offices of the
Commercial Company stated.