The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-24

be would have found few men In the public |
service of England who could pretend to hold |
a higher position in that country than he |
holds among his fellows in this country. If |
the Tribune or its English partners in the
Misrepresentation of current history imagine
that the determination OF the American
people to see Justice done to them in regard
to the Alabama claims can be affected by the
sneers or the bumptiousness OF London news
papers, we opine that their fond delusion
will be at no distant day rather disagreeably
dispelled.
THE NEUTRALITY QUESTION BE-
TWEEN PRUSSIA AND THE UNITED
STATES.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.
We may anticipate that the correspondence
between Count Bernstorff and Lord Granville
will be paralleled by O correspondence be-
tween Baron Gerolt and Mr.. Fish. 1t is said
that from the United States as we'll as from
the United Kingdom, large supplies of contra
band of war have been and are still being
imported into France. Impartiality would
seem to require that the American like the
British Government should be favored by the
German Minister with diplomatic exposition
of the theory and practice of neutrality. 1t
cannot be supposed that the remonstrance
addressed by Count Bernstorff to Lord Gran
vile expressed merely his personal views on
the question to which it related. The doctrine
as one which the German Confederation
is prepared to maintain against all corners.
We are justified in assuming that ours is not
an exceptional but an ordinary case and in
demanding that the principle which Count
Bernstorff has invented or revived should be
applied by his Government not only to its
relations with us but also to its relations with
every other power placed in similar posi-
| tion to our own. The international policy of
| the German Confederation should be meted
out with one measure in all quarters of the
| globe: and it is fair to expect that its repre-
| sentatives should be restrained from blowing
hot across the English Channel and cold
| across the Atlantic.
The proclamation in which President Grant
| announced the neutrality of the United States
at the commencement of the present war has
answered in advance any remonstrance Baron
Gerolt is likely to make to him, should he be
| inclined to follow in the steps of Count Bern
storff. In it the legal freedom Iof American
citizens to trade at their own peril in contra
band of war with either of the belligerents is
distinctly admitted. They are duly warned
that if they export arms or ammunition either
| to Germany or France, the cargoes will be
liable to capture and confscation. But out
side the limits of their neutrality laws-which
are by no means so stringent as our amended
| Foreign Enlistment act--it is not attempted,
except 10y formal appeal to their individual
good feeling, to place any restrictions upon
their discretion as to the line of conduct they
may choose to pursue. We have done as
much, and it is all which the law Of
nations requires that neutral States
should do. 1t is not their business
to prevent their subjects from entering into
contraband trade with the belligerents.
They are thought to have conceded enough to
the claims of the latter when they consent to
allow them to seize upon the property of the
former, which under other circumstances
would be protected But, besides these
general considerations, there is special ar
gument which Mr. Fish may urge upon the
attention of Baron Gerolt, and Lord Gran
vile might have brought under the notice of
Count Bernstorff, the cogency and signii-
canoe of which it is impossible to exagge-
rate. By the thirteenth article of the treaty
of amity and commerce ratified between the
United States and Prussia in 1893, by which
former treaty of 1885 was renewed in a
more complete and explicit form, it is pro-
vided that
"In case of one OF the contracting parties being
engaged in war with any other power to prevent
all diffculties and MISUNDERSTANDING that usually
arise respecting merchandise OF contraband, such
as arms, ammunition, and military stores of every
kind no such articles carried in the vessels, by
the subjects or citizens OF either party, TO the
mics Of the other shall be deemed contraband so
property individuals. Nevertheless 1t shall be
lawful to stop such vessels and articles and to de-
IdlH tHtm lOr 5uCn leuBJH OF tlIue as bue CdpCOrH
may think necessary to prevent the inconvenience
or damage that might ensue from their proceeding,
paying however. reasonable compensation for the
loss such arrest shall occasion to the proprietors
and shall further be allowed to use in the service
OF the capors the whole any part OF the military
stores so detained paying the owners the full value
of the Eame to be ascertained by the current price
at the place of destination"
This stipulation is designated by Sir Ira.
vers Twiss "a somewhat singular innovation
upon the practice which has prevailed among
! the nations of Europe in regard to contra
! band of war;" and he adds that it constitutes
''the Twelfth Article of the Treaty of Com.
7 merce concluded between Prussia and the
| Tinted States of America on May /, 1928
which is now in force"
, Count Bernstorffs essay on neutrality is
strange commentary on the treaty engage
ments of his country. We presume he does
not pretend that Prussia has relieved itse
from the obligation by the absorption of thu
minor German States. If Baron Gerolt doe!
not proceed upon this assumption either, it il
g evident that he can have nothing to say
: against the export of cannon, rifles, and car
+ tridges which are ported to be on their wa,
/ from New York to Brest and Havre. But tn
4 effect of the article we have quoted is fa
wider than it appears at first sight to be- 1
q not only secures an indemnity for the deten
! tion of the contraband goods of American
y citizens by Prussia, but also for all contra
$ band goods in the oouIse of transit to tn
enemy of Prussia in American vessels.
d Count Bernstortf did not propose to Lore
e Granville that in the interests of ''benevo
. lent neutrality" our Government should pu
: a stop to our commerce altogether Bu
nothing short of this could prevent American
I citizens from purchasing munitions of wa