New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-08
NEUTR1L OBLIGATIONS.

The libelling of the steamer Carondelee' toau-
ed in this port with munitions OF war 1or TYP
polite's forces, is to be commended as Ju-
dicious act of Government Intervention Inc
neutrality laws are explicit in prohibiting the
,ca of American ports as the base of naval
onerations and military supplies against a
friendly Government. This vessei con'aineu
a cargo of field ordnance rifles, Shells po"uer
and similar supplies, designed, as there IS every
reason to believe, for the insurrectionary forces
of the island. When the attention OF the Gov
eminent was directed to the suspicious steamer
by the Haytian Minister there was prompt anu
decisive action. The vessel was detaheu' anu
suit was begun for its contiscation for vloiauon
of the neutrality laws.
II the, validity of Legitimes eiecuon as
President of Hayt. was an open queSnoE az
the outset, the Administration plainly recog-
p;zed his authority when it sent Admiral Luce
70 his capital to demand the surrender OF tho
Havtien Republic with suitable indemnity
and 30 salute the flag. Minister Preston repre-
sents that Government, and the state depart
ment holds official relations with him. For III
practical purposes, Legitime occupying inc
capital of Hayti and suppreSsing an lnsurreC-
,ion against the de facto Government, holds
the same relations to Hyppohte which Lincoln
sustained to jefferson Davis. During the
American Civil War our Government required
foreign Powers to enforce their neutrality laws
and bitterly resented the conversion OF brush
norris into Confederate depots OF naval ana
military supplies The three rules adopted In
the Treaty of Washington for the Geneva TN
bunal presented the American doctrine OF neu-
trality applicable to such cases. These rules
are:
To use due diligence TO prevent the attng out,
rrno mr. eouipping within It's jurisdiction, OF any
vessel which II has reasonable ground to believe is IN
tended 10 cruise or TO carry on war against fo"or
with which IL is at peace and also to use Ike diligence
10 prevent the departure from It's jurisdiction OF any
vessel intended to cruise carry on war as above
such vessel having been adapted, in whole OF IN part
within such Jurisdiction, to warlike use
o Not 10 permit or suffer either belligerent 10
make nee Of It's ports or waters as the base oil naval
operat,ons against the other, for the purpose Oh
augmentation OF military supplies or arms, or inc TO
cruitment Of men. 49,,
q To exercise due diligence IN It's own ports and
waters and as TO all ports within Its 1urisdletioh
prevent any violation Of the foregoing oongauos anu
| duties. "a.
These rules. it will be observed, pronlol'
not only the fitting out Of privateers ana Ves-
sells of war in neutral waters, but also the en-
ployment of neutral ports for the purpose oil
augmentation Of military supplies or arms on
the recruitment of men, The Carondelet was
not designed to be an Alabama, but 1t was
loaded with military supplies purchased fol
HyppoIites forces. II its clearance were not
illegal under the neutrality acts, the high
ground talxen nv the United States before the
Geneva tribunal would preclude the conversion
of New York Harbor into base OF supplies
| for the forces in insurrectiOn.