Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-11-29

IHtSnuSu operation on INC niSi seas u
This if carried into effect would be
fragrant violation of the neutral rights
of the United States, and as such ,ney
would be bound 70 oppose it. The
minister of th- Uuited States at Par
is, Immediately applied for explana-
ton on that subject and the French
minister of marine on the oath De-
cember, 1906, seven days before the
date of the above mentioned note OF
the British government, stated in an
swer, that the decree made no altera-
tons in the regulations then observed
in France with regard to neutral navi-
cation, or to the commercial conven-
ton of the United States with France.
That the declaration of the British ISL
ands being in a state OF blockade did
not change the existing French laws
concerning maritime captures, and that
American vessels could not be taken
at sea for the mere reason of their be :
ing going TO, or returning from an En-
glish port.
The execution Of the decree com
ported for several months, with those
explanations several vessels were ar
rested for having introduced articles
of English growth or manufacture, and
among them some which being actual
" from England, and laden with En-,
glish colonial produce, had entered
with forged papers, as if coming from,
the United States. But no alteration
of the first construction given by the
French government took place unit,
he month of Septe mber, 1907. The
frs, condemnation on the principle that
1.-THE decree subjected neutral vessels &C
capture on the high seas, was that oil
the Horizon on the 10th of October
following. Prior to that time there
could have been no acquiescence in a
decree infringing the neutral rights OF
the United States, because till that
time 1t was explained, and what was
more important. executed in such man.
ner as not to infringe those rights, be-
cause until then no such infraction had
taken place. The ministers of the u.
nlted States at London, at the request
OF the British minister, co nmunicated
r to him On the 18TH October, 1907, the
substance of the explanations received
and OF the manner in which the decree
was executed. For they were at tha,
time Ignorant of the change which had
. taken place.
1t was on the 18th of September
} 1907, that a new construction OF the
decree took place an instruction ha
) wing on that day been transmitted tc
) the council Of prizes by the minister o.
justice, by which that court was in.
formed that French armed vessel.
were authorised, under that decree
to seize without exception, in neutral
vessels, either English property oil
merchandise of English growth o,
manufacture. An Immediate expla.
nation having been asked from the
1 French minister of foreign relations
he confirmed, in his answer of the 9TH
I OF October, 1907, the determination oil
his government adopt that construc-
ton. Its first application took place
on the 10th of the same month, in the
case OF the Horizon, of which the min.
ister of the United States was not in.
J formed until the month OF November
i and on the twelfth of that month, he
presented spirited remonstrance a.
gainst that infraciirn of the neutral
j rights OF the United States. He had.
in the meanwhile, transmitted TO A.
merica the instruction to the council
OF prizes of the 18th o. September
This was received on the OF
December; and copy Of the decision
in the case of the Horizon, having at
the same time reached government.
the President aware of the conseouen
ces which would follow that new state
OF things, communicated immediately
10 Congress the alteration of the
French DEGREES, and recommended the
embargo, which was accordingly laid
on the 22d of December, 1907; at
which time it was wei understood.
in this country, that the British
orders of council, OF November pre-
cedlng had issued, although they
were not officially communicated to
our government.
On the 11th of that month those or.
ders did actually issue declaring that
all the ports OF France, of her allies, &
a -