The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-17
If Right to Search Vessels Within the
Three-MfIe Limit Is Denied, Uncle
Sam Would Suffer Most.
CAPT. CROSSMAN INDIGNANT
MURUAGA's INSINUATIONS RESENTED
By THE ALLIANCES COMMANDER.
The Outrage on the American Steam-
ship Discussed in the Spanish
Chamber Of Deputies.

WASHINGTON, March 16. = Secretary
Gresham was at the State Department this
morning for a short time, but Mr.. UhI, the
First Assistant Secretary, is still in charge
as acting Secretary. In answer to an inquiry,
he said that response had yet been re-
ceived from United States Minister Taylor,
at Madrid, concerning the demand made by
the State Department for reparation for
the firing on the Allianca. The Alabama
claims decision, on which this demand was
based, is coming in for good deal of quiet
discussion here and the members of the
diplomatic corps are, by means, a unit
in giving it their adherence One official
contends that there never has been prac-
tical application of the doctrine since it was
enunciated, and urges that the United
States is itself the last power that can af-
ford to surrender it's claim to jurisdiction
extending even to the right of OBTAINING
and searching suspicious vessels within the
waters lying three miles from our coasts.
Should this position be taken, however, it
is alleged that it would be practically i'm
possible to prevent wholesale smuggling and
the violation of our revenue and customs
laws at every turn. The same doctrine, if
extended to Bering sea, would throw open
the seal fisheries to the vessels of all ma
tions other than Great Britain, which would
be stopped only by the specific treaty.
Senors Muruaga, the Spanish minister, is
calmly awaiting developments. 1t was re-
ported that the minister had been at the
State Department during the morning, but
this was not the case, and, as Secretary
Gresham is dealing directly with the Span
ish officials at Madrid, Senior Muruaga feels
that he will have no occasion to commune
cate with the department unless Mr.. Gresh-
am sends for him. The Minister said to-
hat he hon -
affair would not prevent temperate and
good natured consideration of the case He
has been frank and outspoken concerning
1T, but does not want this to be mistaken
for irritation or lack of every diplomatic
courtesy. to the authorities here. Eat the
very outset, said the Minister II sought
Mr.. Uhl, the acting Secretary. and assured
him that If the facts disclosed that the
palnsi spalhlsn boat boat was wa in the wrone then an
mas 6een to have official action based on
established facts
In the event of Spain apologizing for the
Aiiianca affair. the question has arisen as
TO what form the apology will take. In
diplomatic usage an expression of regret is
flag of the country to which an interna-
ttional discourtesy has been given. This was
the French flag in 1855 and salutng the
Brazilian flag in 1866. In the former case
apologizing for an indignity against the
French consul at San Francisco. Mr.. Marcy,
tnen secretary or state, frSt offered to
make the apology by saluting the French
flag on a French man-of-war, stopping at
San Francisco. Count De Sartiges, the
French minister at Washington, asked in
addition that when the consular flag at San
Francisco was rehoisted it should receive a
salute. This was declined by Mr.. Marcy
France was not satisfied. but after some
months the French government agreed to
accept as sufficient satisfaction an express
sion of regret by the government of the
United States, coupled with the provision
that when a French national ship or
squadron shall appear in the harbor of San
Francisco the United States authorities
there military or naval, will salute the
national flag borne by such ship or SQUAD
ron with national salute and the French
ship or squadron whose flag is thus sa-
luted will return the salute, gun for gum
The salute to the flag was thus given and
with such apology the incident closed
war to Brazil for the express purpose of
offering apology by firing salute to the
Brazilian, flag. The United States had
seized the confederate ship, Florida at
laws. Mr.. Seward, then Secretary of State
announced a purpose to make full apology
including the dismissal of the United States
consul at Bahia, who advised the attack
the court-martial of the United States naval
commander who committed the offense and
salute to the Brazilian flag. The last feat
ure of the apology was executed with much
ceremony on the very spot where Brazilian
neutrality had been invaded.
In the tirginiuS case. the United States
demanded a salute OF our flag a part of
the apology from Spain, hut the salute was
afterWdrd waived on its appearing that the
papers of the Virginius were based on a
false affidavit.
The official salutes of the United States
to foreigners is made up of as many shots
as there are States in the Union. The salute
to the President is fixed number of twen
ty-one guns Snouid spain salute cur flag
it would probably be by firing twenty-one
guns.