The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-14
Oar Duties as a Neutral.

The continued presence of the Cimbria in
Southwest harbor gives rise to speculation,
more or less wise, as to the course our gov
ernment should take ia the matter. In truth
our Government is called upon to do nothing.
1t has no more concern with the Cimbria
than it has with other vessels that visit our
shores and comply with our customs
regulations. The intentions of the Russian
government in regard to the steamer are now
no concern of ours. Russia is at peace with
all nations, and her marine, armed or un-
armed, has free access to our ports.
But should war break out between Russia
and England our position would be entirely
changed and we should be called upon to
take active measures regarding the Cimbria.
The law which governs the action of neu-
trails, a law that we have caused to be mora
sharply defined than ever before, imposes
upon US very exacting obligations. By the
attitude which we took before the Geneva
tribunal we committed ourselves to rigor-
Gus enforcement of the duties of neutrals
which we there formulated. If our position
is a correct one, eternal vigilance is hereafter
to be the price of neutrality as it is of liberty.
We claimed that Z neutral Government is
bound to use due diligence to prevent the fit
ting out, arming or equipping, within its
jurisdiction, of any vessel which it has rea-
sonable ground to believe is intended 10
cruise or to carry on war against power
with which it Is at peace, to prevent the de-
parture of vessels specially adapted, in whole
or in part, to warlike use, to institute pro-
ceedings under its laws against all vessels
against which reasonable grounds for sus-
picion are made to appear,even il the grounds
for suspicion fall short of legal proof, and to
amend the laws if they are inadequate to ef-
feet these purposes. Not satisfied with this,
we went on to define the meaning Of the
term educ diligence" doing it in these words !:
The United States understand that the dill
gence which is called for by the rules OF the
treaty of Washington is a due diligence; that
is, diligence proportioned to the magnitude
of the subject and to the dignity and strength
of the power which is to exercise it,-a dill
gence which shall, by the use of active vigil
ance, and of all the other means in the power
of the neutral, through all stages of the trans.
action, prevent its soil from being violated, "a
diligence that shall in like manner deter de-
signing men from committing acts of war
| upon the soil of the neutral against its will
and thus possibly dragging it into war which
| 1t would avoid,-a diligence which prompts
the neutral to the most energetic measures to
discover any purpose of doing the acts forbid
| den by its good faith as a neutral, and imposes
| upon it the obligation, when it receives the
knowledge of an intention to commit such
| acts, to use all the means In its power to pre-
| vent ii.
This Interpretation of the duties of neu-
trails we have bound ourselves to observe,
whether it is wise or not. 1t does not mat
ter in what direction our sympathies are; our
duty is plain. 1t is generally and very hastily
assumed that the majority of our people
would in case of war favor the Gar. We
certainly feel grieved and indignant at the