Evening star., 1898-05-14
No Evidence That France is Disre-
garding Obligations.
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ANNOYED
Friendship Shown Of Our Sister
Republic.
THE CASE OF THE HARVARD

The officials of the State and Navy De-
partments strongly depr=cate mischiev-
Gus and dangerous the efforts that are
being made TO create the impression that
France is not acting up to the rule IN the
observance of strict neutrality between
the United States and Spain. They say
that even were there some slight founda-
ton for the statements, the time is very
inopportune for newspaper attacks that
might even involve France in the present
hostilities. AS a matter of fact. they say
mere ia no evidence of any disp"sitInn
the part of the French colonial officials in
the West Indies to discriminate agai lst
the United States and favor Spain If
there has been any delay in the transmits
sion OF cabiegrams from Martinique to the
United States government or in the reverse
direction. our government is not in posses
sion of any evidence tending in The slight
est degree to show that obstacles were
purposely interposed. AS far as the mat
ter of coaling is concerned there Is as yet
also an entire absence of any evidence
that the Spanish fleet was accorded any
uhdue advantage in this respect If it took
coal at Martinique. and even this is not
certainly known much would depend upon
the quantity allowed. The practice is to
enough coal to carry it to the nearest
home port. which, in this case, might be
Porto Rico or Cuba. If the Spaniards re-
plenished their coal bunkers from colliars
lying in the port. another interesting
question would be raised
Application of Neutrality Lnyvs.
In fact, the application of neutrality laws
to such cases as are now presented by the
frequent IF hot
Spanish warships is very much beclouded.
distinguished official. one of the leading
lights in the construction of international
law, pointed to the fact that there were
few precedents of value to guide a neutral
government just now and the probabilities
are that by the time the present war is at
an end the United States will. lust as II
did in the war of the rebellion, make a
good many precedents and a good deal of
international law for the guidance Of the
family of nations hereafter
The Harvard's Case
Sach question as that presented by the
action of the French authorities in detain-
ing the United States steamer Harvard at
ST. Pierre for twenty-four hours, after the
departure of the Spanish torpedo boat de-
stroyer Terror, which she found in that
port, raises in itself a host of interesting
questions and reveals the fact that there
Is absolutely nothing like a uniform rule
in the matter. Some nations require when
two belligerent vessels meet in their ports
that the first conner shall depart first.
while the other shall be detained twenty
four hours. Another rule Is that the
weaker vessel shall be allowed to depart
nrst In order to prevent the stronger from
lying IN wait for her outside. In other
cases still, the second boat in is not de-
ta1ned In port twentyfour hours but the
neutral contents itself with a pledge from
the commanding officer of the beligerent
snip that he will not engage in hostiities
with the other ship until twenty-four hours
have elapsed after his departure from port.
Generally these rules founded on the
old practice that obtained in the days of
sailing ships and they have not been modi-
fled to meet the needs of modern naval
service. The matter of coal supply Is also
obscured by doubtful interpretations in
construction
Rather to Our Advantage.
AS far as the Harvard is concerned, the
rule has not worked to Cur hardship On the
contrary. the officials here are rather in
clined to be grateful to the French author
tiles for their concession of the privilege to
the Harvard to remain in port until she
has completed some necessary repairs to
her machinery. With number of Spanish
torpedo boats and cruisers lurking around
Martinique there is no disposition on the
part of the naval authorities to expose to
their attack a vessel like the Harvard, alb
solutely without protection against the
smallest gunire and without much often
sive power.
ic4o tfcalf
far as was possible to do SO before making
the statement yesterday that no French
artillersts had been landed by the Lafay-
ette at Havana. They are now inclined to
think, after looking at the matter
carefully, the whole basis for this absurd
story grew out of a remark by some naval
officers that the superior gunfre of the
Spanish at Cardenas made it very evident
in view of their wretched shooting before
that, that some Frenchmen must have
come over to help them out.
France Ignores spain's Protest.
Official Information reached here today
that the Spanish government had filed a
protest at the foreign Office in Paris against
the permission given by the French au-
thorities at Martinique to the United
States auxiliary cruiser Harvard to re-
main in the harbor of St. Pierre, Martin
ique, for seven days to make necessary re-
pairs. The French government has taken
speedy action on the protest, and insists
that the United States cruiser. being dis
abled. has full right to remain seven
days or such time as may be necessary to
complete ker repairs, and that in the mean
time no steps will be taken to have her
leave the French port.
The Spanish protest is an important de-
valo In or ~,
West Indies. as it serves to permit France
to give conspicuous evidence Of her
friendly attitude toward the United States,
and to offset the insinuations which have
been made as to French favoritism to
Spain.
1t also makes clear for the first time the
plans of the Spanish admiral to have the
Harvard forced out of the harbor at Mar
Unique and then to capture her by his
swift cruisers and destroyers. Fortunately.
however. this plan of the Spanish admiral