The Cordova Daily Times
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CORDOVA, ALASKA. TUI DAY, FKBIM AltV IIMti.
THAT LITTLE WORD “ILLEGAL.”
As tin- dispatches describe the situation one little word
of Seven letters is likely to bring about a severance of relations
between the United States and Germany. That word is
“illegal.” Germany refuses to admit that the sinking of the
Lusitania is “illegal,” as tin* notes of the United States de
scribed it. Germany accedes to the demand for an expression
of regret and for the payment of indemnity. But at the same
time the imperial government maintains that the act was legal
within the interpretation of the rules of war.
With that maintenance not many Americans will agree.
The vast majority regards the sinking of the Lusitania as a
disgraceful, illegal, unnecessary crime, even though the provo
cation was great, England criminally negligent, and' the Am
erican passengers on the vessel foolhardy.
At the same time what possible good could result in
creating a state of belligerency over it between the United
States and Germany? Certain there must be some ready way
that will prevent two great nations from coming to blows over
such a question. Is it for this country alone to determine the
legality of a close international question? Or is that a matte^
to be determined by The Hague? Are we going to take the hit
in our teeth, simply as a matter of revenge, and plunge into the
holocaust? Common sense gives a negative reply.
ENGLAND INVOKES TREATY SHE REJECTED
Tim Devil was sick, the Devil a saint would be.
The Devil was well, the devil a saint was he!
The British ambassador laces an impossible task in his
attempt to prove that the 1’lilted State- is hound' by The Hague
conventions to order the release to British owner of the liner
Appain, captured by the Germans and brought as a prize into
an American port. He buses his request on Article 21 of The
Hague treaty, covering the rights and duties of neutral powers
in naval war as follows:
“A prize rnay only be brought into a neutral port on ac
count of unseaworthiness, -tress of weather or want of fuel or
provisions. It must leave as soon as the circumstances which
justify the entry are at end. If it does not, the neutral power
must order it to leave at once; should it fail to obey, the neutral
power must employ the means at its disposal to release it, with
its officers and crew, and intern the prize crew.”
Clearly, that article of The Hague treaty — if il were in
force and effect — would make a plain case in favor of the
British demand. But that Hague treaty is not in effect in this
controversy for two reasons, either one of which is sufficient.
First, it is not in force because Great Britain never ratified it,
although her representatives at The Hague convention signed
it. “It should be noted that the conventions and declarations
are not binding prior to tin* deposit of ratifications at The
Hague,” say- James Brown Scott, director of the division of j
international law, Carnegie endowment. “The mere signature
of these conventional agreements may he regarded as the indi
cation of an intention to ratify them, but creates no legal obli
gation.”
In this particular case, whatever Great Britain’s original
intention may have been, she since has clearly shown a desire
not to be a party to this treaty she now invokes. For she al
vejid'v has done her “nicking and choosing” of The Hague
conventions to which she will allow herself to he permanently
txmnd. Of the thirteen Hague conventions signed by Great
Britain’s delegates, that government later ratified eight and
failed to ratify five. Among the five not ratified was the treaty
< I noted in the Appam controversy.
Emphasizing that Great Britain did her “picking and
choosing” very carefully and deliberately is the fact that in
ratifying eight of the thirteen treaties signed by her Hague
delegates, she deposited reservations as to particular clauses in
four. She “specked” them closely, and ratified or refused ac
cordingly. Hence her contention announced at Washington,
that The Hague rule holds, even if not ratified by England,
because it is the embodiment of older international law prin
ciples, is defeated by her own selection. She had' her chance to
accept it along with the other Hague rules, but declined.
Anvhow, another clause of this very treaty makes the
entire convention ineffective in the present war, even if Eng
land had signed it. Article 28 says:
“The provisions of the present convention do not apply
except to the contracting powers, and then only if all the bel
ligerents are parties to the convention.’’
In this war Serbia, which was not a party to The Hague
convention, is a belligerent. It is a case of “one out, all out,”
and The Hague rule is not applicable.
On the other hand, if the United States decides thjit The
Hague rule does not apply, but that the Prussian-Am&rican
treaty assures asylum for German prizes in United States ports,
to what will it lead? Tf it is true that Germany now has kt sea
a fleet of commerce destroyers, will it not mean that they can
use American ports repeatedly for prize after prize as they
gobble them up? ,
\
/ —■ ■ ' III
Sixty Steam Heated Rooms Eletric Lighted
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Cordova House
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Headquarters for Railroad and Mining Men
Satisfaction Guranteed
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» i ' in
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COMMERCIAL HOTEL
Mr*. Catherine J. Palmer, Proprietor
Steam Heated Modern in Every Respect
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I CHITINA - ALASKA
DR. W. H. CHASE
PHYSICIAN and SURGEON
Office over Cordova Drug Store.
Calls may be left at Cordova
Drug Store. Residence.
Alaskan Hotel
DR. C. L. HALE
DENTIST
Office In Adams Building
ASA C. BALDWIN
Civil Engineer
Patent Surveys
Address: Valdez, Alaska
E. F. MEDLEY
Attorney and Counsellor at Law
Room 1
Adams Block CORDOVA, ALASKA.
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Attention
CHARLES GAME
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E. A. HEGG
photographer
PHOTO SUPPLIES
Views and Post Cards
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M. C. Thompson H. C. Murphy
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PRESCRIPTIONS CAREFULLY COMPOUNDED.
COMPLETE LINE OF STATIONERY.
ALASKA,
STEAMSHIP CO. 1
Fast and commodious steamers sailing between Seattle. Ketch
ikan, Wrangell, Juneau. Skagway, Cordova. Valdez, Seward and
ANCHORAGE, via INSIDE PASSAGE.
Kails from Seattle, Sails from Cordova.
ALAMEDA.February 23
February 20 .... NORTHWESTERN .... February 29
Regular freight servtce Tor Ketchikan, Juneau, Sheep Creek,
Treadwell, Douglas. Cordova, Ellamar, Valdez ard Latouche. Explos
ives S. S. Seward. S. S. Seward, 5th; 8. 8. Latouche, 15th; 8. 8.
Cordova, 25th of each month.
This company reserves the right to change schedule of steamers
without notice.
Tickets on sale at up town office Alaska Steamship Bldg. Baggage
or freight will not be received at the dock later than one hour before
sailing time.
F. B. TRACY, T. J. TALLENT,
_ General Agent_ Ticket Agent
Pacific-Alaska Navigation Co.
ALASKA PACIFIC S. S. CO. ALASKA COAST CO.
PUGET SOUND-ALASKA ROUTE
Next sailing from Seattle will be
ADMIRAL FARRAGUT.February 9
ADMIRAL WATSON.February 18
Via the INSIDE PASSAGE for Ketchikan, Juneau, Yakutat,
Kataila, Cordova, Valdez, Seward, Cook Inlet points and Kodiak
Island.
Seattle-San Francisco connecting with steamers Yale and Har
vard for Southern California Ports.
3chedule subject to change without Notice.
ALASKA 1RANSFER CO., Local Aleuts
| Copper River &
| Northwestern Ry.
Effective October 4th, 1915. £
| Two trains every six days between Cordova and £
| Chitina, one of these trains leaving Cordova making £
connection with Alaska Steamship Co. steamers arriving
if from Seattle. |j|
| Trains leave Cordova depot, at foot of Second Avenue, f
fi Mondays and Thursdays. £
£ Leave Kennecott, Tuesdays and Fridays. £
Leave Kennecott for Chitina, Wednesday and Saturdays. £
| Leave Chitina for Cordova, Tuesdays and Fridays. f
The above schedule subject to change without notice. £
Dining Car in Connection With all Regular Pestenger Train* Be- £
•jji tween Cordova and Chitina. £
Freight received from 9 A. M. to 5 P. M.
g Tickets on sale it Depot or up-town office, Alaska £
£ Steamship Company building £
| Cile'j Cirstr S. R. Hedges
Superintendent Cordova Agent If
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60 HORSE POWER FOOS MINING HOIST.
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pressors; built in single units, from 3 to 500 horse power. $
Write for special Catalogue.
X*
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Phone 39
CORDOVA - - ALASKA 1