The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-04-30

LISBON giving the substance OF the neu-
trality decree gazetted there to-day
and said it was evidently accurate and
covered the entire subject. He has not,
however, up to a late hour to-day re-
ceived an official notification of the
neutrality decree. The official Gazette
of Lisbon, Portugal, to-day published
the neutrality decree of Portugal in the
war between Spain and the United
States. 1t is similar to the decree is
sued at the time of the outbreak Of the
Franco-Prussan war, and contains six
articles, as follows:
~ Forbds the equipment of privateers
In Portuguese waters.
~ Forbids the entry of privateers into
Portuguese waters.
(9 Permits belligerents to make short
stay at Portuguese ports.
(4 Defines legitimate trade as regards
belligerents and forbids trading In goods
which may be considered contraband Of
war.
(5) Warns Portuguese and foreigners In
Portugal against actions contrary to the Sc
curity of the state.
(6) Refuses protection to any infringers
of the decree.
The viscount stated that article 3,
which permits belligerents to make a
short stop at Portuguese ports probably
would be better understood by saying
that belligerents would not be permit
ted to make long stays at Portuguese
ports. Under the usual rules of inter-
national law the stay was likely to be
confined to a day or two. The min
lister drew attention to the privileges
permitted when warships of both bel
ligerent nations were in the same port.
In that case if the warsnlp of one pow
er leaves port the warship of the other
power cannot leave in pursuit within
twenty-four hours. Portugal has been
very insistent upon this rule. This was
shown during the civil war.
Havti's Neutrality.
The republic of Hayti is expected to
maintain strict neutrality as between
the United States and Spain and it is
said that reports of exceptional privil-
eges given to the United States war
ships in Haytian waters are erroneous.
The Haytian minister said that he had
received no official instructions con-
cerning neutrality, but he had no doubt
an attitude of impartial neutrality
would be maintained. 1t is recognized
among offiials here that all the sympa-
thies of Hayti are with the United
States and yet any action by that
country inconsistent with strict neu-
trality would place Hayti in the atti-
tude of being an ally of this country
and an open enemy of Spain. Mr.. Le-
ger, the minister had noticed the pub
lished quotations from the treaty be
tween the United States and Hayti,
which, it was asserted, gave exception
al privileges to the United States, in
that our warships were given the right
to take coal and supplies in Haytian
ports. The minister made a careful
examination of his official text of the
treaty and was unable to locate any
such exceptional privilege. The treaty
was made during the civil war and
contains many provisions relative to
conditions of war, but Mr.. Leger's S
reading of them does not disclose any
provision which is inconsistent with
strict impartiality in a neutral attitude
between Spain and the United States.
Any privilege enjoyed by the ships of
one country will be equally open to
those of the other country, he said.