The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-23
Statement Issued as to What May
Be Seized.
HAWAII NOT TO Be HELD.
Government Won't Do More Than
Secure Goallng Station.

Washington, April 22.-There were two
further important steps in Washington to-
day toward actual hostilities, not to men
tion the overt act involved in the seizure
of the Spanish vessel Buena Ventura off
Key West.
The first was the issue by the President
of his proclamation announcing to the
world blockade of number of Cuban
ports, and the second was the signing by
him of the bill providing for the utiliza-
ton of the volunteer forces in war.
Then, in addition there was notable re-
tirement from the navy department in the
case of Capt. Royal B. Bradford chief of
the equipment division.
Capt. Bradford asked to be given COM
mand of an active warship. The resigna-
ton will be accepted and by virtue of his
rank, as well as to mark the high regard
entertained for him by the administration,
Capt Bradford will be given one Of the
best available ships in the navy.
Following up the formalities beginning
with the blockade proclamation, the stale
department this afternoon addressed an
Identical note to all the representatives OF
foreign nations accredited to Washington,
notifying them of the policy to be pursued
by this government in the matter of prl-
watering and neutrality.
This was followed by the sending of ca
bic messages to all American embassies
and legations abroad containing the same
inf L.,
for presentation to the governments to
which they are accredited.
The statement was precisely similar in
terms to that telegraphed by the Asso-
ciated Press last Wednesday and its for
NAL adoption by the government as the
bne Of policy to be pursued was not pre-
vented BY. the criticism passed upon it In
the Senate yesterday by Mr.. Money of
Mississippi.
In brief, it declares that our government
viii not resort to privateering, that en-
emy's goods in the neutral bottoms, save
contraband, are exempt from seizure; that
neutral goods not contraband, under en-
emys flag, are safe from seizure, and that
blockade, to be binding, must be effective
In substance, these are the principles
laid down in the agreement of Paris In
1856.
The officials are not disturbed at the
semi-ofiicial notice from Madrid that
spain will refuse to be bound by the same
principles and forbid privateering, for they
are satisfied that the great commercial
towers will not tolerate the practice Of
prlvateering under the Spanish flag.
lnasmuch as there exists great amount
OF misapprehension, not only among for
eign countries. but also among American
shippers as to the character of merchan-
dlse that is icontraband and liable to seiz-
ure during the progress of war, the fol-
lowing unofficial, but authentic, statement
mas been obtained from high official of
the government:
"Contraband of War.
In determining, according to the law
of nations, whether merchandise is con-.
'raband of war. it is classified:
'Q-Absolute contraband.
"(2)--occasional or conditional contra
band.
S)-Goods not cohtrahand.
The first class includes all goods of an
essentially warlike character.
The second class includes provisions,
laval stores, coal. horses, certain kinds
OF machinery, certain fonns of steel, iron,
etc, which are subservient to warllke use,
ana which are destined for the use of the
enemy. They are contraband or not, ac-
Cordlng TO occasions and conditions as to
Ihelr character, shipment and destined
use. Every such case depends on it's own
facts.
The third clause includes articles not
suited to warlike use-such as church SER
wee and musical instruments, household
wares and goods and other such like arti-
cIes, and including many that are purely
mercantile in character.
NO article Of merchandise is contra
pahd unless transported beyond the ter
Ilorial waters and jurisdiction of a neu-
ual state, nor unless destined for an en-
einy port or for an enemy's use, or for any
shemy ship upon the high seas. which bel
Hserent ships are permitted to police In
search of enemy ships and contraband OF
war
No final and exhaustive definition of
contraband articles can be given. They
are changing with the progress Of inven-
IONS. Some articles were formerly con-