"undesirables " in the town, and many others who could not explain their presence in certain places were taken into custody. Scores were released after a short detention, and the following morning lists of all the arrested were forwarded to the various Con suls, with a request that they indicate such of the persons as they could vouch for. Those for whom the Consuls were thus will ing to become sponsors were released, while the others were deported. Under these circumstances it was difficult for the representatives of the claimants to urge redress on their behalf. None of the Powers was willing to contest the theory that every Sovereign has the right to deport, even in times of peace, aliens for any reason it may deem sufficient. The numerous de cisions of the United States Supreme Court in the Chinese exclusion cases precluded the American representative from denying the right, and the European powers, for obvious reasons, were loath to do so. The fact that the Consuls had been appealed to and had not interfered was at least prima facie evi dence that the deported were undesirable. The only other question raised was as to the possible right on a field of battle, or among belligerents, of members of a regularly organized neutral Red Cross Ambu lance. The question was raised by Ameri can and Dutch claimants, but unfortunately, from a legal aspect, the Commission was not called upon to decide the question, the members of the alleged neutral organization
having, in both instances, violated their neu trality. . Notwithstanding that the claimants had no standing in law of right, the Foreign Office, acting with the utmost consideration, pro posed to settle the claims "out of court." This offer was willingly accepted in each in stance, and the claims were withdrawn from the Commission. The only condition on the part of the English Government was that the sum which was finally agreed upon should be accepted in full settlement of all of the claims, and that the Government should not be required to see to the distri bution among the respective claimants. The whole sum thus voluntarily paid over to all of the thirteen Powers who appeared for claimants was .£108,950. The representa tive of the United States Government was exceedingly gratified at the exceptional con sideration given to the American claimants; for whereas the average claimant received only £68 12s., the award to the Americans averaged no less than £429 11s. 8d. apiece. The same favorable discrimination is ap parent if the comparison is made of the per centage of sums awarded to sums claimed. The American claimants were not modest in their estimate of their losses, and made de mands largely in excess of those submitted by other nationalities. Nevertheless, they were awarded 38 1-4 per cent of the large sums claimed, to 13 1-4 per cent awarded to Holland, 12 per cent to Germany, and 14 per cent to Austria.
