and safety of her citizens, yet that fact will not deter her from protesting, by the most effective means at her disposal, against any attempt to infringe upon her sacred international rights-in spite of the veiled threats made by the acting Imperial German consul in his published statement of "war news," issued and circulated in this city, under the official seal of his Imperial Government on the 21st of April, to the effect that powers of the third and last importance will be held to strict accountability for all damage done to German interest, the bill for which will be presented and payment thereof enforced after the happy issues of the war. The Liberian Government is therefore constrained, as an earnest protest against the continued enforcement of the new German submarine program, which threatens the lives of Liberian citizens, as well as grave financial and economic embarrassments to the Republic, to sever relations with the Imperial German Government, and to revoke the exequatur granted to Germany's official representative at this capital. With assurances of my high esteem and profound respect, I have the honor to subscribe myself, RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE REGULATION, MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE PANAMA CANAL AND THE MAINTENANCE OF ITS NEUTRALITY By the President of the United States of America A PROCLAMATION No. 1871, May 23, 1917 Whereas the United States exercises sovereignty in the land and waters of the Canal Zone and is responsible for the construction, operation, maintenance, and protection of the Panama Canal: Now, therefore, I, WOODROW WILSON, President of the United States of America, do hereby declare and proclaim the following Rules and Regulations for the regulation, management and protection of the Panama Canal and the Maintenance of its Neutrality which are in addition to the general "Rules and Regulations for the Operation and Navigation of the Panama Canal and Approaches Thereto, including all Waters under its jurisdiction" put into force by Executive Order of July 9, 1914. Rule 1. A vessel of war, for the purposes of these rules, is defined as a public armed vessel, under the command of an officer duly commissioned by the government, whose name appears on the list of officers of the military fleet, and the crew of which are under regular naval discipline, which vessel is qualified by its armament and the character of its personnel to take offensive action against the public or private ships of the enemy. Rule 2. An auxiliary vessel, for the purposes of these rules, is defined as any vessel, belligerent or neutral, armed or unarmed, which does not fall under the definition of Rule 1, which is employed as a transport or fleet auxiliary or in any other way for the direct purpose of prosecuting or aiding hostilities, whether by land or sea; but a vessel fitted up and used exclusively as a hospital ship is excepted. Rule 3. A vessel of war or an auxiliary vessel of a belligerent, other than the United States, shall only be permitted to pass through the Canal after her commanding officer has given written assurance to the Authorities of the Panama Canal that the Rules and Regulations will be faithfully observed. The authorities of the Panama Canal shall take such steps as may be requisite to insure the observance of the Rules and Regulations by auxiliary vessels which are not commanded by an officer of the military fleet. Rule 4. Vessels of war or auxiliary vessels of a belligerent, other than the United States, shall not revictual nor take any stores in the Canal except so far as may be strictly necessary; and the transit of such vessels through the Canal shall be effected with the least possible delay in accordance with the Canal Regulations in force, and with only such intermission as may result from the necessities of the service. Prizes shall be in all respects subject to the same Rules as vessels of war of a belligerent. Rule 5. No vessel of war or auxiliary vessel of a belligerent, other than the United States, shall receive fuel or lubricants while within the territorial waters of the Canal Zone, except on the written authorization of the Canal Authorities, specifying the amount of fuel and lubricants which may be received. Rule 6. Before issuing any authorization for the receipt of fuel and lubricants by any vessel of war or auxiliary vessel of a belligerent, other. than the United States, the Canal Authorities shall obtain a written declaration, duly signed by the officer commanding such vessel, stating the amount of fuel and lubricants already on board. Rule 7. Fuel and lubricants may be taken on board vessels of war or auxiliary vessels of a belligerent, other than the United States, only upon permission of the Canal Authorities, and then only in such amounts. as will enable them, with the fuel and lubricants already on board, to reach the nearest accessible port, not an enemy port, at which they can obtain supplies necessary for the continuation of the voyage. Provisions furnished by contractors may be supplied only upon permission of the Canal Authorities, and then only in amount sufficient to bring up their supplies to the peace standard. Rule 8. No belligerent, other than the United States, shall embark or disembark troops, munitions of war, or war-like materials in the Canal, except in case of necessity due to accidental hindrance of the transit. In such cases the Canal Authorities shall be the judge of the necessity, and the transit shall be resumed with all possible dispatch. Rule 9. Vessels of war or auxiliary vessels of a belligerent, other than the United States, shall not remain in the territorial waters of the Canal Zone under the jurisdiction of the United States longer than twenty-four hours at any one time, except in case of distress; and in such case, shall depart as soon as possible. Rule 10. In the exercise of the exclusive right of the United States to provide for the regulation and management of the Canal, and in order to ensure that the Canal shall be kept free and open on terms of entire equality to vessels of commerce and of war, there shall not be, except by special arrangement, at any one time a greater number of vessels of war of any one nation, other than the United States, including those of the allies of such nation, than three in either terminal port and its adjacent terminal waters, or than three in transit through the Canal; nor shall the total number of such vessels, at any one time, exceed six in all the territorial waters of the Canal Zone under the jurisdiction of the United States. Rule 11. The repair facilities and docks belonging to the United States and administered by the Canal Authorities shall not be used by a vessel of war or an auxiliary vessel of a belligerent, other than the United States, except when necessary in case of actual distress, and then only upon the order of the Canal Authorities, and only to the degree necessary to render the vessel seaworthy. Any work authorized shall be done with the least possible delay. Rule 12. The radio installation of any public or private vessel or of any auxiliary vessel of a belligerent, other than the United States, shall be used only in connection with Canal business to the exclusion of all other business while within the waters of the Canal Zone, including the waters of Colon and Panama Harbors. Rule 13. Air craft, public or private, of a belligerent, other than the United States, are forbidden to descend or arise within the jurisdiction of the United States at the Canal Zone, or to pass through the air spaces above the lands and waters within said jurisdiction. Rule 14. For the purpose of these rules the Canal Zone includes the cities of Panama and Colon and the harbors adjacent to the said cities. Rule 15. In the interest of the protection of the Canal while the United States is a belligerent no vessel of war, auxiliary vessel, or private vessel of an enemy of the United States or an ally of such enemy shall be allowed to use the Panama Canal nor the territorial waters of the Canal Zone for any purpose, save with the consent of the Canal Authorities and subject to such rules and regulations as they may prescribe. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. DONE at the city of Washington this twenty-third day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and forty-first. [SEAL] By the President: ROBERT LANSING, Secretary of State. WOODROW WILSON. EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING DEFENSIVE SEA AREAS FOR TERMINAL PORTS OF THE PANAMA CANAL, AND PROVIDING REGULATIONS FOR No. 2692, August 27, 1917 By virtue of the authority vested in me by law, the following-described defensive sea areas for the terminal ports of The Panama Canal are hereby established, to be maintained until further notification, at the places and within the limits prescribed as follows, that is to say: ATLANTIC ENTRANCE: OUTER LIMIT. From the northern end of Naranjos Cays to a point 2 miles due north of the breakwater entrance, thence tangent to the arc of a circle with 1-mile radius, having the mouth of the Chagres River as a center, thence along the arc of this circle to the beach. INNER LIMIT.-Line joining east end of west breakwater and west end of east breakwater. PACIFIC ENTRANCE: OUTER LIMIT.-Line joining Vanedo Island with north end of Taboguilla Island; thence north 53° east, true, for 5 miles; thence north 39° west to a point with San Jose Rock bearing north 53° west, true, distant 2 nautical miles; thence to Tres Hermanos Beacon; thence to Punta Mala. INNER LIMIT. —Line joining Guinea Point with inner end of causeway. The following orders and regulations for the government of persons and vessels within the limits of said defensive sea areas, which orders and regulations are necessary for the purposes of defense of the Canal Zone, are hereby promulgated: I. In the neighborhood of each defensive sea area the following entrances are designated for incoming and outgoing vessels: ATLANTIC: Designated Entrance for Incoming Vessels: A patrol boat stationed with end of west breakwater bearing south, true, distant 2 nautical miles. Designated Entrance for Outgoing Vessels: The main entrance to the Panama Canal, between the breakwaters. PACIFIC: Designated Entrance for Incoming Vessels: Patrol boat stationed with north end of Taboguilla Island bearing due west, distant 1 nautical mile. Designated Entrance for Outgoing Vessels: Canal prism. |