The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-23
WHY EUROPE GRowLs
nnerchantn1,

One cause of Frances anger over the
war is because it may shut off Paris
bread and butter. Ten thousand mon
| led Americans, on an average, put in
| a part of every year in Paris. pouring
out their money like water. The COM
plain comes from London and other
European capitals that in event OF
! war Americans will stop crossing the
ocean. About one hundred million
dollars are annually spent by Ameri-
cans in Europe. Italy gets a good
share of this gold. Mr.. Penfeld, soIic-
itor for the state department, has
given an opinion on the question of
the safety of American ciSezens, pas
sengers on neutral vessels at sea. and
on the liability to capture and seizure
Of American goods on ships of neu-
trails. He holds that American citizens
sailing in neutral bottoms would be
free from capture by Spanish vessels.
Ships of warning nations are subject
to seizure, and when captured are
taken to the prize court of the captor
for trial and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is,
whether the ship and cargo, or either,
are lawful prize. It might happen
that an American ship captured by
Spanish vessel would be laden with a
cargo belonging to subjects of a neu-
trail power. In that case the cargo
would be released, but the vessel
would be condemned. Mr.. Penfeld de-
clares: "All American ships together
with their cargoes, If American, would
be subject to capture on the high seas.
The more difficult question to deter
mine is whether American goods, not
contraband Of war. shipped in neutral
bottoms, would be subject to such cap
ture and condemnation Before the
declaration of Paris, In 1856, such was
the undoubted rule of international
aw as generally practised. The sec
md article Of that declaration pro-
vides that "the present declaration
shall not be binding except between
hose powers who have acceded to it
IT who shall accede to it." The Unit
ID States or Spain did not sign the
declaration of Paris, and hence |
neither of the belligerents are bound |
~ the declaration. Mr.. PenfieId adds: |
In view, however, of the treaties of |
he United States with Spain, which |
tipulate for the application Of the |
principle if either should be at war
With a third power who acknowledges
he principle, much could be said in
Import Of the view that those neutral
owers who have accepted the declar-
ton would have the option to apply
he principle in protection of goods Of
ither belligerent shipped in neutral
ottoms." His conclusions are that
-merican citizens sailing in foreign
ottoms would be free from capture
Y Spanish vessels. AS to American
Gods covered by a neutral flag, it may
lso be regarded as an accepted princi-
lie of international law that their
eizure would be Illegal" On the other
and, Spain has a right to take the
pposite view. The situation has
realty embarrassed American vessel
wners. The American line steamers
tiling from New York to Southamp- t
IN are but poorly patronized on ac-
'unt of the war scare. 1t was the !
realty diminished business of the line |
lat prompted the owners Of the I
merican line to offer their vessels for
lie to the government They asked. t
owever, an excessive price-$1, 500, 900 {
Dove the governments offer.