New-York tribune., 1870-10-05

THE SHIPMENT OF ARMS TO FRANCE.
Within the last thirty days, or since the estab-
lishment of the Provisional Government in
Paris, the French military authorities have
purchased in this country, and shipped from
this port, large numbers of breechloading
rifles, and vast supplies of ammunition,
cartridges, etc. The first shipment 5000 riles)
was by the French steamer P6reire, on the Sd
of September, the day after the surrender
of Louis Napoleon at Sedan. The next
shipment was on the Goth, by the
French steamship Lafayette, which carried
$1,000 breech-loaders of the so-called Egyptian
pattern. The third shipment was on the Sd
inst. (Monday LAST, by the French steam
ship Vile de Paris which had a cargo of
rifles numbering nearly 10000, beside an I'M
mense volume of cartridges. We understand
that the French steamship st. Laurent, which
leaves this port on Saturday of next week,
will take out still larger supply than either of
| the three preceding steamers. The orders from
| France to our principal rifle manufacturers
are unlimited and the French agents
! here are under directions to secure the
shipment of military supplies with all
possible haste. The steamships of the French
line-four in number-leave this port fort
nightly and it will be observed from the
preceding statements that all of them are
actively engaged in the transport of arms.
The first small shipment of rifles was, we
believe, on private or speculative account
but all the subsequent shipments have been
by direct order of the Provisional Govern
ment of France.
There have been some complaints from Ger
man sources against our Government for per-
mitting the export of these great supplies of
arms and cartridges to France at the present
crisis 1t is said that they are to be used
against the German armies, that they will be
the means of enabling France to prolong the
war indefinitely, and that thus we are morally
responsible for the destruction Of life and all
the horrible results that may ensue Similar
complaints were formally made to England,
under similar circumstances, by the Prus-
sian Government four weeks ago. 1t
having been then announced that France
was about to receive 10000 ChassepOts
from English manufacturers, Count Bis
marck sent dispatch to the English Govern
ment, saying that while England professed to
be neutral in the war; she was virtually trans
formed into a French arsenal and store house,
and ammunition from England should be pro-
hibited. The Prussian Minister fortified his
demand by referring to the action of the Prus-
sian Government during the Crimean war,
when England and France were engaged with
Russia. No less than three authoritative orders
were then issued from Berlin on the subject.
The first formally prohibited the transport of
weapons, in order to prevent arms being
sent from Belgium to Russia through
Prussian territory. The second order prohb-
tied the transport of munitions of war of
"every kind, especially of prOjectiles, percus-
" sion caps, and gun-tlints as also lead sui
"phur, and saltpeter" The third order re-
peated the terms of the second, and added TO
the prohibtOry list weapons and gunpowder."
Count Bismarck holds that the English Gov
eminent ought at this time to follow the policy
which Prussia adopted toward England in 1854.
But in reply to his demand, the English
government alleged that it had no
| power 10 take such a step without the
express authorization of Parliament Thus
the case now stands between these
parties; ana France has for month past been
receiving large supplies of arms and ammnni.
ton from English manufacturers. II Is alto.
gether improbable that the English Parliament
would pass any law making it illegal for Rrit;.h
manufacturers to export arms, II wac oftor
the present war had broken out that Pill
ment adopted the new English neutralitv Iau,
which was Incorporated in the Queens procla,
nation of neutrality issued on the 9th Of last
August This law closely resembles, in sever
al of its leading features, the American neu
trality law Ule Act of 1879. which President