The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-18
men FOR AFRICA


Can you give references" inquired
| the captain.
| Yes, sir
Very well. Take these regulations and
application blank. have them translated
to you. and on Monday return with the
| application and references"
| MINISTER GENET,s CASE.
In the year 1893, when Thomas Jerfer-
| son was Secretary of State, the French
minister, NJ. Genet. insisted upon the right
| to arm French vessels In American ports,
| and to enlist citizens of the United States
into the French service. In a letter writ
| ten August II Of that year Mr.. Jeffer-
| son referred to the law of nations founded
! on the general sense and usage Of mankind,
| expressly forbiddiuG the assumption Of
such prcrogative by any foreign power.
| The matter was the subject of Il pTotricted
discussion, but was finally adjusted.
In 1853, during the administration or
President Pierce, England became involved
iii war with Prussia, and passed an act
OF Parliament providing for the enlistment
OF "A number OF troops. II was subsequently
discovered that the British government had
established recruiting headquarters in the
United States. at various places, and was
enrolling our citizens into her service.
The men engaged in he work were
promptly apprchcrdri and punished, and
upon learning that the work had becL
sane, Toned by the British minister, Mr..
Champion, he was dismissed by the Presi-
dent.
PRESIDENT PIERCE'S MESSAGE.
In n message on the subject sent TO
Congress during that year, President
Pierce said:
While the laws of the Union are per-
emptory in their prohibition OF the equip
ment or armament OF beligerent cruisers
in our ports, they provide Not less absO-
lutely that no person snail within the
territ DRY or Jurisdiction of The United
States enlist or enter rim self or hire or
retain another person 10 enlist tor enter
himself or go beyond the limits OF the ju
risdiction of the United States with intent
to be enlisted or enrolled in the service of
any foreign state. either MS soldier OF
Us a marine or seaman on board any vessel
OF war, letter OF marque OF privatcer.
'And these laws are also i'll strict con-
formity with the law or nations. wbich de-
clares that no state has the right ia sise
troops for land or sea service in another
state without its consent. and that whether
forbidden by the municipal law or not, the
very attempt To do IL without such con-
sent, Is an attack on the national SOW
ereignty.'
Gen. Gushing, the Attorney General dur
sb.liHlhiStIdtlOi, NiIdI
has been considered one of the ableSt Opin-
ions on International law, and in 1t he
said:
The attempt by one government to en-
list troops IN the territory Of another,
without the iatter's consent, is Just
cause of war;
IT is NOT LAWFUL.
During the administration of President
Buchanan the question was again brought
up by some overt act of the British gov
eminent and in n letter to the President
Secretary of STATE Marcy said:
mo foreign power can, by its agents or
officers, lawfully enter the territory of an
other to enlist soldiers for service or or
ganize or train them therein. or even
entice persons away to be enlisted, with
out express permission
Alexander Porter Morse, one OF the high
est of contemporary authorities on inter-
national law, was interviewed on the sub
ject of foreign enlistments in this country
and said:
MISREPRESENTATION is the supreme law of
every country. and the United States could
not afford to permit any acts within its juris-
diction that might bring about interna tional
complications. Even if there were no writ
ten law on the subject, such thing as for
eign enIistmcnts in this country would be
under the control of the executive depart
ments and if it became necessary, they
could put a stop toit.
1--WE arc, OF course, as one of the family
of nations, bound by all the admitted rules of
International law, and our amity must be
colorlcss In the eyes OF all nations with
which we desire to be at peace The three
rules of the Washington treaty commit US
to a rigid observance of the neutrality
laws, and it would be violation of the
sovereignty of this country to allow
troops To be used against any country with
which we are at peace.
Modern international law holds that
recruiting soldiers or sailors is sover-
eign prerogaiive. which no foreign power
can exercise without express permission"