The age-herald., 1898-04-23

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 a number of Cuban ports and the second was the sign ing by him of the bill providing for the utilization of the volunteer forces in war.
 The naval authorities welcomed with pleasure the manifestation of patriotism on the part of distinguished New York citi- zen in rendering to the government with- out compensation his speedy steam yacht. Following up the formalities beginning with the blockade proclamation the state department this afternoon addressed an identical note to all of the representatives of the foreign nations accredited to Wash ington, notifying them of the policy to De pursued by this government in the matter of privateering and neutrality. This was followed by the sending of cable messages to all American embassies and legations abroad containing the same information for presentation to the governments 10 which they are accredited. The statement was precisely similar in terms to that teie- graphed by the Associated Press last Weo- nesday and it's formal adoption py the government as the line of policy to be pur- sued was not to be prevented by the crlti- cism passed upon it in the senate yesteroay bv MT. Money, of Mississippi. In prieI' IL declares that our government Will not re- sort to privateering, that enemys eoous in neutral bottoms, save contrapaho uhoei the euemy's flag, are safe from seizure anu that blockades to be binding must De enec- tive In substance, these are the prihclples laid down in the agreement or Pails III 1856.
 pr,vateering Will Not Be Tolerated
 rha officials are not disturbed at the sami-official notice from Madrid that opaih will refuse to be bound by the same prli- c;nles and forbid privateering, for they are satisfied that the great commercial powers will not tolerate the practice of privateerihs under the Spanish flag. Inasmuch as there exists great amount of misapprehension not only among 1oreish countries, but also among American snip ners as to the character of merchandise that is contraband and is liable to seizure during the progress of war, the following unofficial but authentic statement has been obtained from a high government oniclai:
 Contraband ofW
 In determining according to the law Of nations, whether merchandise s contra band of war it is classified:
 1. Absolute contraband.
 2. Occasional or conditional contraband.
 B. Goods not contraband.
 The first class includes all goods of an es- scntially warlike character
 The second class includes provisions, na- val stores coal, horses, certain kinds or machinery, certain forms of steels iron, etc., which are subservient to warlike use and which are destined for the use of the enemy. They are contraband or not, ac- cording to occasions and conditions as to - their character, shipment and destined use. Every such case depends on it's own facts.
 The third class includes articles not suit ed to warlike use-such as church service and musical instruments, househould wares and goods and other such like articles, and including many that are purely mercantile in character.
 No article of merchandise is contraband unless transported beyond territorial waters and jurisdiction of neutral state; nor un- less destined for an enemy's port or for an enemy's use or for an enemy's ship upon the high seas, belligerent ships are per- ~--~~--~~--~-~-~-~~-~~>
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