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Show BREAK OF RELATIONS DOESN'T IAN WAR IS AN ACT OF PROTEST CHRON. ICLED-AS "MEASURE SHORT OF WAR." Rights of Germans in United States and of Americans In Germany Practioally Unaffected by Diplomatic Break. Washington. Breaking off diplomatic diplo-matic relations with Germany does not mean war, but easily may lead to war. It is an act of protest characterized char-acterized in the usage of nations as a "measure short of war." The danger that war may follow Is accentuated' by the diplomatic history of the world. Modern times show no instance of a diplomatic break between be-tween two first-class powers that has not been followed by hostilities. The rights of Germans in the United States and of Americans in Germany are practically unaffected by the severance sev-erance of diplomatic relations. No treaties are terminated or suspended, but remain in full force and effect unless either government decides to renounce them, which, under inter national practice, generally calls for a notice of one year. German consuls in the United States and American consuls in Germany Ger-many holding their places by virtun of treaties continue to perform their usual functions, but they no longer work under the supervision of diplo matic officers. Tlioro la -nn fliSTlc in mmiflprcial relations, already badly crippled by the war. Individuals and corporations corpora-tions may continue their usual affairs, af-fairs, provided they do not deal in contraband, and their obligations are as binding as ever. The courts still remain open to . them for redress, but they have no facility for direct intervention inter-vention of their doplomatic officials. They may, however, be represented by the diplomats of the friendly powers pow-ers to care for the interests of the respective governments. There should be no sequestration or confiscation of private property either in the United States or Germany, Ger-many, although it may be taken for use under certain circumstances. The ninety-five or more German merchant ships tied up in American ports since the beginning of the war may be used by the United States, but the German owners ultimately must be compen sated. The ships scattered in the ports of continental United States, Porto Rico ; and the Pacific island possessions, including in-cluding the Philippines, comprise some of the best-known liners and aggregate 628,837 gross tons. Only in case of war is there possibility of their being absolutely confiscated, and even then such action is doubtful, for the United States, in the world court of nations, has been the leading exponent expon-ent of the inviolability of private property. Mails will continue to move under the Geneva convention and other existing ex-isting special conventions. There has been no restrictions upon the free movement of travelers between the two countries other than the fixed policy of the Un!ted States to issue no passports to visit the war zone unless un-less they have pressing business there. |