The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-27
STATE DEPARTMENTS NOTICE
OUR DECLARATION OF WAR SENT TO
ALL FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.
Proclamation of Neutrality by Britain
and Her Colonies and Other Pow
ers--American Ships Detained.

1
WASHINGTON, April 26.-Conditions in
| Washington are rapidly settling down to
those of actual war. Notices came to the
| State Department from the four quarters
of the globe to-day showing that the ma
| tions as a rule are prepared to assume an
attitude of strict neutrality as between the
United States and Spain in the present
| struggle. In most cases they were in an
swer to the identical note sent cut yesterday
by the State Department to all United
States embassies and legations instructing
| them to inform the governments to which
| they were accredited that war has existed
since April q. One of the important events
of the day was the issuance by the Presi-
dent of the following proclamation:
Whereas, BY an act of Congress ap-
| proved April 25, $685. 1t is declared that war
| exists, and that war has existed since the
21st day Of April A. D. 1898. including said
day. between the United States Of America
and the kingdom of Spain; and.
| Whereas, 1t being desirable that such
war should be conducted bn principles in
| harmony with the present views of nations,
and sanction by recent practice, 1t has al
| ready been announced that the policy of this
government will be not to resort to priva-
| teering, but to adhere to the rules OF the
| declaration of Paris.
Now, Therefore, I, William Mckinley,
| President of the United States of America,
| by virtue of the power vested in me by
| the Constitution and the laws, do hereby
declare and proclaim:
| "Ffrst-The neutral flag covers enemys
| goods, with the exception Of contraband of
war.
"Second-Neutral goods not contraband of
| war are not liable to confiscation under
| the enemys flag.
"Third-Blockades in order to be binding,
| must be effective.
"Fourth-Spanish vessels in any ports or
any places in the United States shap be
| allowed until May Il, 1898, inclusive, Tor
loading their cargo and departing from such
ports or places, and such Spanish merchant
| vessels, if met at sea by United States
ship shall be permitted to continue their
| voyage if on examination of their papers 1t
shall appear that their cargoes were taken
| on board before the expiration of the above
| term provided that nothing herein con-
tanned shall apply to Spanish vessels having
| naval service of the enemy, or any coal (ex-
| cept such as may be necessary for their
voyage), or any other article prohibited or
| contraband of war, or any dispatch of or to
| the Spanish government.
| "Fifth-Any Spanish merchant vessel
which, prior to April q, 1898, shall have
sailed from any foreign port bound for any
port or place in the United States, shall be
| permitted to enter such port or place and
| to discharge her cargo and afterwards
| forthwith depart without molestation, and
| any such vessels If met at sea by any
| United States ship shall be permitted to con-
tinue her voyage to any port not bIockaded.
"Sixth-The right of search is reserved,
| with the strict rights of neutrals. and the
| voyages of mail steamers are not to be in
terfered with except on the clearest ground
of suspicion of violation of law in respect
Of eontraband or blockade.
| WILLIAM MKINLEY."
NOTICE TO ALL NATIONS.
The State Departments notice to all of
the powers and nations with which the
United States holds friendly relations of the
declaration of war yesterday issued by the
government of the United States was a
| necessary formality in order to put in mo-
ton the neutrality laws proclaimed in many
neutrals for vessels detained and turned
back at bIockades without due notice. The
instructions which were sent to all the
| United States legations abroad directed at
tention to the fact that war has existed
since April q, when the Spanish government
broke off diplomatic relations in order to
avoid accepting the ultimatum at the hands
OF Minister Woodford The text of the in
structions follows:
"a Joint resolution of Congress- approved
| April 20. directed intervention for the paci-
fication and independence of the Island of
Cuba The Spanish government, on April
81 informed our minister at Madrid that it
considered this resolution equivalent to a
declaration of war, and that it had accord
;ngly withdrawn its minister from Wash
ington and terminated all diplomatic rela-
tons Congress has therefore, by act ap-
proved to-day, declared that state of war
exists between the two countries since and
including April a. You will inform the
government to which you are accredited so
that it's neutrality may be assured in the
existing war. SHERMAN.
Great Britain always has taken an ad-
vanced stand In the principles of neutrality,
go that it was of great interest that the
news was received here of the terms Of the
neutrality proclamation issued in London.
On the whole the officials are disposed to
take the view that strict adherence by
Great Britain to these rules will be rather
more advantageous TO the United States
than TO Spain, particularly as we are now
operating. In the naval sense. close to our
own base of supplies aid in all probability