The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-08-15
The Neutrality Law.
Thebill for ths mod;deation Of the peu-

Nt Il = ~
Thelbill for the modification OF the neu-
trail laws ofthc United States, reported by
Mr.. Bank and which passed the House OF
Representatives by o upanimous vote, mod
lies the act Of 1918 in only one or two i'm.
portant particulars. The ostensible object
of the bill was to bring down the standard
of our neutrality laws Of 1919, as melted
out to US, and which was the cause Of an
cry remOnstrauce on the part of this Gov.
eminent with the Cabinet Of Earl Russell
The British law provided only against the
fitting out and arming of vessels for the
service of a foreign belligereat, and contain.
ed no express provision against building and
selling ships to foreign government, al
though it was notorious to everybody that
the vessel might the day after she felt a
British port be converted, by slight
change OF structure while at sea into an
armed cruiser. The British laws also pro-
vided that license from the Crown would
dispense the penal sanctions Of the law and
justify the equipment of armed vessels for
the service ola foreign power at war Our
act of 1918 made it equally penal to fit out
vessel with the intent that it should
thereafter be employed as cruiser by a for.
eign power, as to fit out and arm such vos.
sci completely prepared to cruise as war
ship. And it also required the owner of all
armed vessels sailing out Of the ports of the
United States, to give bond that they
should not be employed by the owners to
cruise or commit hostilities against any for.
eien State at peace with the United
States.
The bill, as passed by the House, prohib
its the fitting out and arming of.vessels to
serve foreign bellgerent, but by the tenth
section it authorizes of the United States
to build, fit out and sell vessels, or steamer;
and to supply munitions of war to foreign
Governments. provided merely that the yes
sci be not armed within the United States
with a reservation, however, to the Presi
dent of the power to prohibit the building
and fitting out such ships whenever thu
mantainance of friendly relations with {
foreign patton may in his Judgment, re
euire it In other words, the present neu
srality laws OF the United States, insteat
of being absolute, are In respect OF augmcn
ting the naval power Of OF er countries
made to depend, as matter ofpolicy, upol
the discretion Of the President Of the Uai
ted States. As the interest and honor o
the nation viii probably he safe in tn
hands of whomsoever the American peopl'
may entrast with the chief maeistry, and i
is hardly to be supposed TINT injustice to
wards any foreign power would induce hin
to grant or withhold unworthily the liccnS'
With which the statute entrusts him, W,
may regard the modification of the law, a
passed by the House Ut Representatives
rather as designed as an act Of defensiv
policy against other nations who may mani
fest an unlriendly spirit to this country
than as designed to lower the standard 0
international duties; which it has been tn
honor of the United States to elevate an,
uphold by their example. At this late da,
of the session, it is not probable that tn
bill will become a law.-LBaltimore Sun