Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-09

Washington, March Sin spite of nu-
merous conferences of officials, the con-
tinuation of preparations Low in prog
ress on large scale to pu; the country
in a state of defence, and the outburst
of patriotic speeches in congress, there
was a certain feeling apparent in the
best informed circles that the situation
as to our relations with Spain was to-
day much more favorable than it was
yesterday.
Perhaps the semi-official advices re-
ceived through the Associated Press
from Madrid, indicating a peaceful
purpose on the part of the Spanish gov
ernment, contributed in a large meas
ure to that feeling, or it may have been
that the growing knowledge OF the vast
extent of our own resources tended to
the belief that they would impress 9TH
ers with the futility of attacking the
United States. However that may be,
the feeling prevailed, and at the White
house, too, after the cabinet meeting
wherein all of the facts known TO the
president as to the existing state of af-
/ fairs, were raid unreservedly before the
cabinet members and discussed.
! While Capt BroWnson is going abroad
/ for the government to learn what ships
| of war are for sale and their condition,
he will not necessarily make any pur-
chases. The officer left Washington to-
night, and will take the ST. Paul to
Southampton, sailing from New York.
He will report his arrival at the United
I 1nr1f f111stl tl,eAY
than that the captain declines to indi-
cate the places he will visit ir Europe.
He has been furnished all of the infor-
nation in possession of the navy depart
ment respecting the shipping in course
of construction in Europe, and had a
talk today with Mr.. Lane. who is said
TO have some of those ships for sale,
though he does not at present have the
right in the case Of the two small Bra
lillian battleships now building in
France. AS to these, or indeed any Bra
lillian or Chilian warShips, it has been
discovered that Brazil and Chill are par
ties to treaty by the terms of which
neither country can sell any or its war
Ships unless the other also sells a shin.
Inc reason for this peculiar provision
is to be found in the alliance that is re-
ported to have been entered into by
these two countries for mutual protection
against Argentina and ether South
American nations. Capt. BroWnson does
not expect to stay abroad long, and goes
only on condition that he NAV retuqn
Immediately in case of an open rupture
AS to the right to buy foreign war
shlps, all authorities agree that such
purchases may be made, even after hos
tilities have begun, if the neutral nation
exercises strict impartiality between the
pelligerents, and the ships are not armed
and outfitted ready for service The
trade of ship building is recognized 5
a legitimate one; which may be carried
on at all times. Mr.. Clay, when secre-
tary ofrstate, laid down the principles
as follows: If 1t be forbidden by the
law of nations to sell to a belligerent an
armed vessel completely equipped and
ready for action, it is believed not to be
contrary TO the law TO sell to a belliger-
ent vessel in any other state, although
1T may be convertible into a ship of
war"
Mr. Clay specified a case in which
Spain and one of the South American
republics, then at war, each bought a
ship from the same ship builder. which
ships afterward met on the sea, and had
an engagement He also. specified the
case of Russia'S selling a whole fleet of
ships to Spain, including some of the
Russian ships of the line, while Russia
held neutral attitude between Spain
and the southern republics with which
she was at war.
The subject has been before the Ameri-
can courts and in one case Justice Story
held: While the sale of vessel, armed
OF unarmed, to a belligerent, is not for
hidden by International law such YES
sci, even on its way to the purchaser, is
liable to seizure as contraband. In a /
later case before the supreme court the
distinction is made between the unlaw-
full act of fitting out and armlng a ship
of war for a belligerent, and the lawful
act of selling such ships to be converted
into men of war. The decision says that
the distinction is the same as that be-
tween the lawful act of a gunsmith in
selling a pistol, and the unlawful act of
the same gunsmith in arranging that a
pistol shall be used for a criminal act
A good deal is being accomplished in
way of preparation in both the navy and
war departments. The conference at the
navy department today looking into the
procurement of a suitab BILE store of am
munition, coal and supplies, touched
upon the question of drydocks; and
generally considered number of other
matters connected with the operation of
a warship.
The war department was not behind
the navy. Gen. Flagler chief of ord
nance, is very busy reaching out I'M
every direction by means of the tele-
graph and the mail to learn just how
far the resources of the big private
manufacturing concerns can be relied
on, to come to the aid of the war depart
ment in arming and equipping volun-
teer army, should one be found neces-
sary.
He will not tell what he is doing in
this direction. holding that it is not wise