Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-06
News Of the Capture Received With
Grave Attention.
SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS POSSIBLE
The French View is That the Vessel
Will Be Released.
BASIS FOR THEIR CLAIM

| Key West, caused distinct sensation in
| official and diplomatic circles here today,
as it was believed to involve the possibility
| of mere serious foreign complications than
| had thus far arisen.
| The officials Of the State Department and
| of the French embassy received the news
| of the capture from the press dispat tches
and in both quarters it was received with
| grave attention. In the State Department
| 1t was taken a forerunner of a number
| of cases of like character to follow for this
| was the experience of the United States
| blockading forces during the civil war
Many times during the progress of that
war the couriky was on the verge of a
breach of diplomatic relations with some
! OF the European nations because of the
| seizure of blockade runners. Taking the
| facts as reported, the officials of the de-
| partment declare positively and in this
| they are supported by the unanimous voice
of the naval officials, that there can be no
| question that the Lafayette was blockade
| runner pure and simple, and such is a
| lawful prize. The State Department has
| been disposed to treat with the greatest
| liberality the shipping of neutral powers
and, as already stated, We have taken an
advanced position in this matter. In his
proclamation Of the 26th ultimo the Presi-
dent said:
The Presidents Proclamation.
The right of search is to be exercised
| with strict regard for the right of neutrals,
and the voyages of mail steamers are not
| to be interfered with except on the clearest
ground of suspicion of violation of the
law in respect Of contrabard or of block
| ade.'
1t will be noticed that in this the Presi-
dent expressly warns foreign vessels, even
| mail vessels, against breaking the block
ade, which seems to have been exactly what
the Lafayette attempted. 1t is said that
whether the ship carried contraband of
war Isl absolutely immateria4 in the disposi-
ton of her case. In his preceding procla
nation of the 22d ultimo the President
said
The Lnfayette's O6ense.
ANY nsutral vessel approaching any of
said ports, attempting to leave the same,
without notice or knowledge of the estab
lishment of such blockade, will be duly
warned by the commander of the blockad-
ing forces, who will indo1se or have regis
tered the fact of the date of such warn
ing, where such warning was made; and If
the same vessel shall again attempt to en-
ter any blockaded point, she will be cap
luTeu anu sent ~ tIle uedtSfl convenient
port for such proceedings against her and
her cargo, prize, may be deemed ad-
visable.'
In the opinion of the officials the I.afa-
yette has clearly violated the prohibitions
Of this section of the proclamation, which
was carefully drawn in accordance with
the most advanced theories of the rights of
neutrals. The seriousness of the question,
however, arises from the fact that the
foregoing view of the officials here is not
likely to be accepted by the French gov
ernment and its representatives in Wash
ington.
At the French Embassy.
At the French embassy the news of the
seizure of the Lafayette was received with
great seriousness. The ambassador had
intended to go to New York today, but on
hearing of the taking of the Lafayette, he
determined to remain here to look after
such questions as are likely to arise In the
absence of official information, he asked to
be excused from discussing what course the
French government would take. 1t is said
to be unquestionable, however. mat France
will lodge a protest with 1T State Depart
ment Immediately upon The receipt of off,
cial information of the seizure. This Was
expected to come almost momentarily
probably from the captain of the Lafayette
soon as he arriI es at Key West or else
from M. Bocande, general agent of the
French Transatlantic Company at New
York, to branch line OF which company
the Lafayette belongs.
French Expect Release.
The view is entertained in French quar-
ters that the State Department will
promptly direct the release of the Lafay-
cite, owing to certain circumstances in her
case. The embassy was advised eight days
ago that the Lafayette was on her way to
this side, and accordingly notice was sent
to the State Department that this French
merchantmen might be expected to reach
Havana about this time. No answer was
received from the State Department, but
after giving this notice the French author
tiles took 1t for granted that the Lafayette
would be allowed to proceed on her voyage
without molestation.-
The understanding here was that she had
sailed from st. Nazaire, France. not from
Corunna. Spain. as St. Nazaire is the usual
sailing point for the steamers of this line
One of the officers of the legation made
the trip on one of these vessels short
time ago, and says no stop is made at Co
runna except occasionally en- a return voy-
age 1t was the understanding also that
TIC AdAdySttc was stopping at Havana
merely to recoai, prior to going to Vera
Cruz Mexico. the final destination of the
line
From the French standpoint it is quite
clear that the Lafayette has been detained
through misapprehension. and that her
release will speedily follow.
The French Contention.
The grounds for this view are that she
sailed prior to the declaration of war, and
therefore her captain could not know of
that declaration. It is pointed out that the
declaration of war was on April 25, the
President's proclamation conoerning the
right of neutrals was issued ON the 20th,
and the oficial notice thereon, signed By
Acting Secretaryof State Adee and address
ed to the ambassadors and ministers here,
Including the French antassadoT, ,bears date
OF Aprti q. This. however. ID compIicated
by the. fact that the Pressdent,s . peeciama-
tion Of q -haocinade was on Aprii - and the
Ol1fciRl notice to the French and other en-
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