The Hickman courier., 1878-06-28
Our Neutral Duties.

The activity OF Russian agents in this
country has naturally caused considera-
Die excitement in England. On May q
Mr. Gourley, a liberal member OF the
house of commons. prOpOunded in that
body an inquiry as 10 what information
the British government bad received REL
ative 10 the reported Quitting OF Russian
cruisers in American waters. Sir John
HOlker, Encouragement, in reply, said
that he " had heard of the ships pur-
chased by persons said to act on behalf
OF Russia, but there Is no reason to sup
pase that the ships will be employed, in
the event Of war, as privateers, IN contra
ventiOn of the Paris declaration. There
is no reason TO believe that the United
States will depart from Observance OF the
three rules OF the Washington treaty
There is no necessity for discussing the
responsibility resting on the government
of Russia and the United States, since
there is no reason to suppose that they
would violate their respective engage
ments"
Two unarmed Russian war vessels,
from Cronstadt, passed clapdestinely
through the sound into the Cattegat
during the night Of May 20. It was
supposed that their destination was this
country. The Pail Mall Gazsttes Berlin
special correspondent says that a
great many pretended Russian emigrants
are passing through Germany. 1t is
believed that they are seamen, disguised,
on their way to America 10 man cruisers
"a surmise which may or may not be
correct.
The Pail Mall Gazette attempts to
limit the force of the treaty rules by
saving that they define the duties of a
neutral state, but that a state is not
neutral until war actually begins. The
neutrality law, however, is unmistakable,
and il ia clear that if the government has
reasonable ground 10 believe that any
ship Is being fitted out, armed, or equip
ped in any port of the country for the
purpose of cruising against power with
which we are at peace, it is bound TO pre-
vent its escape. The government, oi
course, must be the judge such grounds,
subject to future reclamations. The
purchase of vessels, however, Is not such
2 ground During the late Russian szr-
Turkish war, Turkey bought arms IN the
United States and ships in Englsnd with
out complaint from Russia, and if Rus
sian agents are now buying vesse Is in this
country, tits no violation Of our laws. But
if belI;gerent power may lawfully buy
ships and arms within our Jurisdiction,
and neither the ships nor the arms can
be detsined separately, it is evident that
all that is necessary for the evasion OF
the law is to get them out separately,
and then to put the arms upon the ship
on the open sea.
Fortunately there can be no doubt
that the neutral duties Of the United
States, in case of war between Russia
and Great Britain, will be most honor
ably preserved, and that the Jaw of 1915
and the rules of the treaty will be care
fully and impartislly enforced. 1t is,
however, obvious that, considering the
enormous extent of our coast and the
relations of national and state authority,
we have undertaken by the three rules
of the treaty very difficult task, and il
is fair question whether, as The Pail
Mall Gazette says, the word neutral
in the treaty has not given Russia, in
the present case, great advantage
THarper's Weekly.