The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-15


AT the beginning of the anti-Ameri-
can outbreak in Spain. when excitement
was at fever heat. a leading Spanish
newspaper declared that in the event of
war neither in the Mediterranean,
whose entrance we command, nor in the
Atlantic, will an American merchant
man be safe, for we shall organize priva-
teers on a great scale" 1t was also said
that the government had received many
offers to arm steamers as p~rivateers.
These statements were noticed in the
British House Of Commons a few days
ago. when a m asked the govern
ment what the effect on British trade
would be in case Of a war between the
United States and Spain and the fitting
Out Of Spanish privateers to prey on
American commerce. 1t was also asked
whether, in case Of war between Great
Britain and a country which had not
acceded to the declaration OF Paris, the
government would consider the whole
the a~dvisability of Great Britain with
drawing therefrom. Mr.. Balfour,. on be-
half of the government, replied hat 1t
did not question SPANS right in the mat
ter, but, in view of the fact that no pri-
vateers had been used in any war since
1856, ever by the powers not acceding
to the declaration of Paris, and that the
doctrine that a neutral flag covers ne
mics goods. except contraband of war,
has been generally accepted during re-
cent years, it may be doubted il Spain
would actually resort to such measures.
The discussion continued for some time
and closed without any distinct declara-
ton Of policy by the government. The
incident shows that the possibility of a
revival of privateering is regarded with
some concern in England.
Privateers are armed vessels. COM
manded by private persons, who receive
a commission from a belligerent govern
ment authorizing them to make captues
of an enemy's ships and goods on the
high seas. Formerly the practice was
general among belligerent powers, and
it is still permitted by international law.
though 1T has been very much restricted
by the operation of the rules of the dec
laration of Paris. made in 1856. Priva-
sCtiA Al6 - Vic OA AN L1OC( " vi
belligerent weapons and one of immense
advantage to a maritime nation with a
small standing navy 1t was used by the
United States with great effect in the
war of 1872. and yet the government has
always favored it's abolition. At present
the United States. Spain and Mexico are
the only civilized nations whose laws
permit privateering. Under the treaty of
Paris, which terminated the Crimean
war, the ~signatory powers adopted rules
by which 'privateering is and remains
abolished" This rule is now recognized
by all European governments except
Spain. At first the United States declined
to accept the declaration of Paris, be-
cause it did not go far enough in the pro-
lection of private property at sea. In
April, 1861, Mr.. Seward offered, on the
declaration as 1t stood, but Great Britain
and France, having recognized the Con-
federate States as belligerents, declined
to accept the remuneration of privateer-
ing on the part Of the United States, un-
less it was accompanied by a declaration
that it should have no bearing on the
differences then prevailing in the United
States. If they had accepted the propo-
sition of the United States they would
have had to treat Confederate ~privateers
entering their ports as pirates, and this
they were unwilling to do. The subject
was. therefore. dropped and has not been
formally reoDened since, so the United
States is still free to resort to privateer-
ing if 1t so desires. In the event of war
with England or any power having a
large ocean commerce it would be a very
effective weapon, but in a war with
Spain the latter would have greatly the
advantage in this respect. as her COM
merce is Insignificant compared wath