The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-27

responsibility in the premises ends
with the exercise of due diligence on
the part of the federal government to
prevent such escapes. The principles
governing the subject were thoroughly
discussed before the Geneva tribunal of
1871, selected by the United states and
Great Britain to settle the dispute aris-
ing out of the Alabama claims. BY the
treaty of Washington, by which it was
provided that the Alabama claims
should be thus referred, certain rules
were adopted for the guidance of the
tribunal one of these rules was that
neutral government Is bound to use
due diligence to prevent the fitting
out, arming and equippng within its
jurisdiction Of any vessel which it has
reasonable ground to believe is intend
ed to cruise or carry on war against
power with which it is at peace; not to
permit or suffer either belligerent to
make use of it's ports or waters as n
base of naval operations against the
other, or for the purpose of the remov-
plies or arms or the recruitment of
men; to exercise due diligence in it's
own ports and waters, and as to all
persons within it's jurisdiction to pre-
vent any violations of the foregoing
obligations. 1t is true that the Ala
bama depredations were committed in
the interest of the Confederate states,
which had been accorded belligerent
rights by England; but the rules quot
ed would, in sound reason, apply as
we'll to the furnishing of military sup
plies to community in revolt against
the mother country, and to which bel
lgerent rights have not been accord
ed"
Have the authorities of the United
States exercised due diligence" in try
ing to prevent the escape of lawbreak-
ing expeditions from this country to
Cuba? on this point we quote another
Philadelphia paper of high standing,
the Press: THE truth is that our
government has been severely and
sometimes justly criticised by it's own
citizens for going altogether too far
in the efforts to aid Spain in Cuba,
The sale of arms and munitions of war
to citizens of any other country where
no war exists is not only a lawful
trade in the United States but is equal
ly so in Spain and in other nations.
Spain maintains, officially, that there
is no war in Cuba now, nor has there
hnpn NJ Gh o.
knowledge a state of war that would
be recognition of the belligerency
of the insurgents. Then the sale of
aims to the insurgents would be un-
lawful in this country. But if the bel
ligerency of the insurgents were rec
ognized it would be unlawful also to
sell arms to Spain. 1t would not suit
Spain to deprive herself of the privi-
lege of buying munitions of war in
other countries; hence she has re-
| fused to recognize officially that a war
exists in Cuba, though she has had
! eight times as many troops in Cuba,
| vainly trying to overcome the insur-
| gents as Great Britain had at any one
| time in this country during the Revo-
| lutionary war. Had Great Britain de-
| MED that there was a war in this coun-
| try during that long struggle she would
| have been ridiculed by every civilized
| nation on the face of the earth. But
with eight times as many troops in
| Cuba, unable to put down the rebellion
Spain denies officially that there is
any war, and seeks to excuse her dis
astrous failure by charging that it is
due to the failure of the United States
to stop tilibustering expeditions. TIC
| such foolish charge our government
will unquestionably promptly reply and
! demand particulars. Spain can give
! none. A filibustering expedition is
one that combines men and arms
The shipment Of arms without men ac-
companying them is not a filibustering
expedition, and yet in its anxiety tc
help Spain the Cleveland administra-
tion stopped expeditions with only arms
on board"
despatch from Washington to the
Chicago Times Herald intimates that
| President Mckinley will do nothing i'm.
pulsively in this matter: that he be-
lieves in giving ,Sagasta a fair chance
to put into effect the promised Cubar
reforms and that he will again try tc
persuade congress not to interfere We
don't believe such is the presidents at
titude; but in any event the tangle
is nearing its unravelment and we shall
soon see the end.