International Incidents for Discussion in Conversation Classes

by L. Oppenheim

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		PAGE
[SECTION I.]
1.	A Councillor of Legation in Difficulties	1
2.	Neutral Goods on Enemy Merchantman	1
3.	American Coasting Trade	3
4.	A German Balloon in Antwerp	3
[SECTION II]
5.	Use of the White Flag	5
6.	A South American "Pseudo-Republic"	5
7.	A Tavern Brawl	9
8.	A Threatened Diplomatic Rupture	11
[SECTION III]
9.	Death Sentence on Russian Terrorists	11
10.	The Case of De Jager	13
11.	A Kidnapped Chinaman	15
12.	A Case of Bigamy	15
[SECTION IV]
13.	A Shot across the Frontier	17
14.	A Revolted Prize	17
15.	Investments Abroad	19
16.	Russian Coasting Trade	19
[SECTION V]
17.	Exceeding the Speed Limit	21
18.	A New-born Island	21
19.	An Irate Queen	23
20.	An Incident in the Black Sea	23
[SECTION VI]
21.	The Case of the Trent	25
22.	A Double Murderer	25
23.	A Masterful Customs Official	27
24.	Russian Refugees and Foreign Asylum	27
[SECTION VII]
25.	A Conversion at Sea	29
26.	A Frontier Affray	31
27.	General Vukotitch	31
28.	An Anglo-French Burglar	33
[SECTION VIII]
29.	Signals of Distress	35
30.	A Change of Parts	35
31.	Violation of a Foreign Flag	37
32.	A Pickpocket at Sea	37
[SECTION IX]
33.	Gypsies in Straits	39
34.	A Question of Annexation	41
35.	Disputed Fisheries	41
36.	Imperial Coasting Trade	43
[SECTION X]
37.	A Russian Crime tried in Austria	43
38.	Stratagem or Perfidy	45
39.	Murder of a German Consul in Mexico	47
40.	Cossacks at Large	49
[SECTION XI]
41.	Islanders in Revolt	49
42.	Seizure of Ambassadors	51
43.	An Envoy in Debt	51
44.	Treaty Bargaining	53
[SECTION XII]
45.	A Fallen President	53
46.	A Murder in Monaco	55
47.	A Question of Interpretation	57
48.	The Island of Santa Lucia	57
[SECTION XIII]
49.	An Attaché's Chauffeur	59
50.	In Quest of Balata	61
51.	A "Sujet Mixte"	63
52.	Koreans at the Hague Peace Conference	63
[SECTION XIV]
53.	The Adventures of a South American Physician	65
54.	Extradition of a British Subject	65
55.	The Case of the Oldhamia	69
56.	An Ambassador's Estate	73
[SECTION XV]
57.	Dangers of Ballooning	75
58.	Family Honour	75
59.	An Ocean Chase	77
60.	The Maori King	77
[SECTION XVI]
61.	The Island of Rakahanga	79
62.	A Complaint against the Police	79
63.	A Man with two Wives	81
64.	A Murder on a Mail Boat	81
[SECTION XVII]
65.	Persian Disorders	83
66.	The Expulsion of Monsieur de Reus	85
67.	The Case of McLeod	87
68.	A Thwarted Suicide	87
[SECTION XVIII]
69.	An Insult to an Ambassador	89
70.	A Question of Legitimacy	89
71.	The Coachman of an Envoy	91
72.	The Case of Schnaebelé	91
[SECTION XIX]
73.	Amelia Island	93
74.	Representation to China	93
75.	Exemption from Rates	95
76.	Errant Balloons	97
[SECTION XX]
77.	Sully in England	97
78.	Homicide by an Attaché	99
79.	A Disputed Capture	99
80.	The Punishment for Murder	101
[SECTION XXI]
81.	A Traitor's Fate	101
82.	An Interrupted Armistice	103
83.	Shooting Affray in a Legation	103
84.	The Surrender of Port Arthur	105
[SECTION XXII]
85.	An Ambassador's Brother	105
86.	A Detained Steamer	107
87.	Prussia and the Poles	107
88.	A Charmed Life	109
[SECTION XXIII]
89.	A Daring Robbery	111
90.	The Fall of Abdul Hamid	113
91.	A President Abroad	113
92.	A Rejected Ambassador	117
[SECTION XXIV]
93.	Revictualling of a Fortress	119
94.	Dutch Reprisals	119
95.	Birth on the High Seas	121
96.	A High-handed Action	121
[SECTION XXV]
97.	The Southern Queen	123
98.	A Three-cornered Dispute	123
99.	Russian Revolutionary Outrage in Paris	125
100.	The Detention of Napoleon I.	127

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SECTION I

1. A Councillor of Legation in difficulties.

In 1868 the French journalist Léonce Dupont, the owner of the Parisian newspaper La Nation, became bankrupt. It was discovered that this paper was really founded by the councillor of the Russian legation in Paris, Tchitchérine, who had supplied the funds necessary to start it, for the purpose of influencing public opinion in Russian interests. The creditors claimed that Tchitchérine was liable for the debts of Dupont, and brought an action against him.

2. Neutral Goods on Enemy Merchantman.

A belligerent man-of-war sinks his prize, an enemy merchantman, on account of the impossibility of sparing a prize crew. Part of the cargo belongs to neutral owners, who claim compensation for the loss of their goods.

3. American Coasting Trade.