The morning call., 1891-07-11
NEUTRALs IN CHILE.

The Hounslow, tramp steamer carrying
the British flag, sailed from this port on
Thursday for Iquique, Chile. with 1900 tons
OF wheat, flour, barley, hay and canned pro-
visions. She will be followed next week by
the Remus and the Willamette with some
5000 tons between them for the same port
A lively trade is thus springing up between
San Francisco and the Chilean ports in the
hands of the Constitutionals. The market
reporter of THE CALL notes a brisk de-
mand for hay, in consequence of the export
10 Chile. All these articles " hich we are
shipping are VIGOROUSLY for the use Of the
so-called insurgents. They are obviously
military supplies, for without them tie
pending war could not be carried on; and
yet the United States officials, with excel
lent judgment, do not appear to be invoking
the neutrality laws 10 prevent tie ship
mentS.
The obje.t o. the treaty of Washington,
which the act OF 1881 was passed TO carry
out, was to prevent the building and equip
ment of ships of war like the Alabama to
prey upon the commerce of friendly ma
tons. But the act, like the treaty, went
beyond its proper purpose when it forbade
the shipment of military supplies 10 bel
Hgerents. No nation can be expected to
because civil war has broken out in a
country with which it is at peace. 1t is
competent for blockading squadron TO
capture cargo in a neutral bottom if the
cargo is consigned to its enemies, but 1t is
going too far for beiligerent TO demand
that neutrals shall stop trading with its
enemy and shall do police duty for it in
their own ports. That would be compelling
neutrals to share the cost of the war.
The rights Of neutrals have been clearly
defined in tie treaties on international law
which have appeared since the Geneva Con-
ference. a neutral nation must be regarded
as the friend of both bellgerents, and is
bound TO treat both of them alike. But
neither belligerent can insist that a neutral
shall sacrifice its trade for the sake of in
Juring the enemy. Thus, the Court OF Ap-
peals at Paris has lifted the attachment
laid on two vessels built in France for
Baimaceda. in spite Of the protests of the
Consu iutonals. The judges held that it
was not fair to infiict loss on the French
ship builder because civil war had broken
out in Chile. This appears to be law and
good sense. At the time the vessels were
ordered Balmaceda was the recognized
Presidential Chile. His successor is bound
by his contracts, Just as the French republic
is bound by the contracts of Napoleon Ill.
People who choose TO trade with bellg-
erents do so at their own risk. If they ship
goods either to the Dictator on the one hand
or the Constitutionals on the other, and the
party opposed 10 their cOnsignees should
seize them, the United States will not pro-
test; the owners took the chances of war.
But neither will the Government interfere
with the shipments at the point of departure
ID uring the War of the Rebellion hundreds
OF biockade-rnnners openly sailed from
British ports laden with rims, drugs, cloth
ing and supplies Of war for the Confeder-
a1es, and Mr.. Adams never tried to stop
them at the ports from which they sailed
When they were captured by the United
States blockadiDg squadron, Great Britain
acquiesced in the seizures. The same rule
must apply to-day, in spite of the statute
OF 1881.
The war in Chile is taking the shape
which was f0reseen at the start. British
sympathies are with Balmaceda, not that
Englishmen love despots, but because the
Dictator has borrowed money and bought
arms in England, and, if he wins, England
will retain her supremacy in Chile. Aineri-