The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-24
SPAIN MAY STRIKE A SNAC
THREATS OF RESORT TO PR
WATERING CAUSE NO ALARM
Great Britain, Germany and France
Will Have Something to Say
When Spaniards POunce Upon
Their COmmerce-Spanis Pro-
test Against Flying It's Flag ON
American Warships.

WASHINGTON, May 23.-The state
nent made today In the cortes by the
Spanish minister of the interior, that
the government Is likely to resort to
privateering, does not. cause any ap-
prehension among officials here. One
Of the highest authorities Of the naval
department said Spain would adopt
privateering, If she felt it to be to her
interest, without waiting for this coun-
try to give any pretext for such ac-
ton 1t is felt, however, that Great
Britain, Germany and France will have
considerable to say In case Spain re-
scr:s to privateering. The commerce Of
these countries with the United States
would suffer very severely by Spain
privateering, and it's effect would be
far more disastrous to these foreign in
teres.s than to the shipping of the
United States. It was this influence
of Great Britain, Germany and France.
which forced Spain reluctantly to fore
SO privateering, and 1t is not thought
probab BILE these foreign influences will
now consent to have their commerce
destroyed.
The debate in the cortes over the
alleged flying of the Spanish flag by
American warships created much COM
ment in naval circles. Spain's protest
to the powers that this use Of the flag
was "cowardly and iriqu teus' was dis
missed by naval officers with the state
ment that International law writer's
agreed on the right to use an enemy's
flag for purposes of deceit, so long as
the flag is lowered before a shot
is fred. The United States naval regu-
lations make specific provision on this
point. The navy department recently
issued an edition of Shows naval pre-
tense, a standard work on naval usage
In time Of peace and war. In this, the
doctrine on the use Of an enemys flag
is stated as follows:
1.-The regulations of the United S.a-es
state that the use of a foreign flag to de-
ce;Ve an enemy is permissible, but that 1t
must be hauled down befo. e gun is Fl ed
and under no circumstances is an acton
10 be commenced or an engag> ment fought
without the display of the national ems gn."
The foregoing rule, both by regula-
ton and by the text book distributed
to the navy, Is a guide for all naval
officers. Practically the same rule is
applied to the use of an enemy's uni
| form.
NO BLOCKADE PROTEST.
The announcement, by way of Paris,
that the Italian government had pro-
tested against the continuance Of the
blockade of the Cuban coast, on the
ground that it was ineffective, met a
prompt denial at the state department,
and 1T can be stated definitely that
neither in Washington nor in Rome
has any representation on this sub
ject been addressed to the United
| States government. AS a matter of
| fact, Italy probably is the maritime
power of all others with which the
| United States has had absolutely no
! correspondence in this light, and the
degree connected with the Cuban block
ade. AS to the allegation that the
blockade is ineffective, 1t is said that,
on the contrary, 1t has been singular
ly successful, and, so far as known, not
| q single neutral ship subject to deten-
ton has passed the lines without the
expressed consent of our government
The Montseratt, it Is true, did enter
1
ing ships had had time to get around
to the south side of Cuba and estab-
l1sh the blockade, and she did manage
to get out at night. But she is a
Spanish ship, and Spain is, perhaps, the
only nation in the world that has lost
the power to enter a protest against
a blockade, being a combatant her.
self. It is only for neutral powers to
enter such protests, and none of them
has as yet the slightest pretext fol
such action.
With the beginning of the present
week all Spanish vessels in United
States ports, which sailed after the
outbreak Of war. are subject to seizure
as we'll as all Spanish merchantmen
found on the high seas, save where
they left port for the United States
| before April q last. The presidents
proclamation Of war allowed such ships
lying in our ports or bound for them
thirty days in which to discharge car.
go, and also insured their safe passage
home. That period Of time expired
last Saturday night. This, it is ex.
pected, will tend to free the state de.
partment from complications.
CONsULs PROMOTED.