The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-19

Our neutrality laws forbid the beginning
or setting on foot, or providing or prepar-
ing the means for a military expedition
against country with which We are at
peace. II is an offense against our laws
to raise troops here for another country.
and offers 10 the japanese minister at
Washington of military expeditions from
this country TO invade China contemplate
violation of our neutrality laws On the
other hand cannon. small arms, cartridges,
and. in short. military stores of every de-
scription. may be freely and openly pur-
chased in this country and exported either
to Japan or China during the present war
without any violation of our neutrality
laws or of international law as understood
here.
The distinction between ordinary COM
merce permitted under our laws and the
military expedition forbidden by them is
stated with great clearness by Judge
Brown in the case of a vessel seized for
alleged violations Of our neutrality law
during an instruction in Colombia:
"The provisions Of section 1858 are not
dHeNteu against ComueFtlAl adventures.
nor against peaceful aid, however impor-
tant. rendered by our citizens to either BEL
hgerent, 50 long IS such aid arises indi-
reetly only. through commercial dealings
and in the ordinary channels Of trade
1.-The statute is directed solely against
warliks enterprises. IL does not forbid
giving aid and comfort to either belliger.
ent Had that been it, design IL would
have been expressed. It's language is to
cruise or commit hostilities.' etc Tins
plainly means acts Of force. injury, or de-
struction that are of q wariike character.
as distinguished from the peaceaole inter-
changes OF commerce which, however
much they may indirectly aid a beiliger-
emit Involve no hosttlittss committed or
participated in by the ship herself"
During the Chilean civil war the
schooner Robert and Minnie, selress on the
Pacific coast for delivering a cargo Of arms
and ammunition to the Itasa, was released
BY order OF the United States court on the
ground that there was nothing to show
that the schooner vas fitted out for pur-
poses Of war OF engaged otherwise than In
legitimate commercial transaction. The
same court held that sending a ship here
10 carry 20 Chile arms and ammunition
bought in this country vas NOT setting on
foot here q military enterprise within the
meaning Of the statutes
In this case aud In the case Of the South
Portland. whose detention was unsueoess-
fully attempted in New York hArbor. on
the ground that shs had on board arms
and munitions for use in the Venezuelan
civil sar. IL vas held that the steamer vas
rot cruiser, and Vas not conveying q
military sxpsditioa against . friendly
poser. bas VAS engaged in Sn ordinary
commercial Transaction, whieA had been
lawful before the breaking cut OF the civil
var. and VAS not made unlaxfzl By the
latter event
Nevertheless American arms and mn-
nsilons sent TO Japan or China are contra
band OF var and the merchant takes his
own risk in shipping them during war
They sre Liable 70 hs intercepted and
.slssa By the eellig~rsnt against whoss In
tsress they are 20 be snpioYsd. II Is only
the purchasing and expectation here that
10 nos an esense. The belligerent la. .
rlkhs 70 capture the conirAeana articles,
sass as the merchant ass the EixAs to sci
sAsua.
TIE Enprwss Of Indla when ss left Van
eoaxer for CANA carried no eontraaaua
fresrht. the steamship COMPANY refusing
- Accept il wlth It's attendant r.sks ana
essnaplseAtAcns