Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-04-28
A DECREE ISSUED.
Spanish Government Declares War Be-
tween Spain and the United States.
Ono Month Given United States ships tn
Leave SPANISH Ports Five Rules
Ttat Spain WA observe
During the War

MADRID. April 35.-The following de-
cree was gazcttcd sunday:
Diplomatic relations are broken of
@csween Spain and the United States,
and the state Of war being begun be-
tween the two countries. numerous
questions of international law arise
which must bc precisely defined,
chiefly because the in Justice and provo
cation come from our adver~arics. and
Al i they who, Icy their dctrstahic con-
Siuct, have caused this grave conflict"
The royal decree then SAYS Suaiu
maiIssains her right Ia have recourse
70 priva,cerin" and announces that for
tbc present only auxiliary cruis.
ers will lac he fitted ont. All
treaties with tine United States are
annullcG; 80 DAYS are given United
States ships Ia leave Spanish ports
aud the rulc> Spain will observe dur
lng the war are outlined in five clauses.
covering ne utral FLAGS and goods, con
traband Of war, what will la cousid-
cred blockade. the right ~ search
and what constitutes contraband of
war, ending with saving foreign pri-
vateers will he regarded a. pirates
Contin ming. the decree reads:
We have observed with the strict
est fidelity the principles of intcrna-
tional law, and have shown the most
scrupulous respect for morality ami
the right of government. There is an
opinion that the fact that We have no,
adhered IL the declaration of Paris
docs not exempt from the duty of re
;>pccting the principles therein enun-
Jatrd. The principle Spain uuqurs-
tionably refused Ia admit then was the
abolition of priVatrering. The gov
ernmcnt now considers IL most indi>-
rrensablr Ia make absolute reserve on
this point. in order To maintain our
liberty Of action and uncontrstcd right
In have recourse To privatc"riu" when
we consider il cNpcdicnt
Following is summary Of the more
important of the five clauses outlining
the rules Spain viii observe during tho
mar:
I. by organizing Immediately a fore
"f cruisers, auxiliary Ia the navy.
which will Toe comsos,cd of vessels al
our mercantile navy.
> Neutral merchandise. except con-
trahand of war. is not >cizahlc under
the enemy's flag.
5. A BLOCK aie To he obligatory must
d. effective. viz. il must hc main
tained with sufficient force Ia prevent
access to the enemy's littoraL
T. The Spanish government UPHOLD
ing its right 10 grant letters al
marque, will at present confine itself
10 organizing. with the vessels 81 the
mercantile marine, a force Of auxiliary
cruisers which will cooperate with the.
navy according To the needs of the
campaign and Will Toe under naval con-
troll
5. In order Il capture the enemy ;
ships and contscatc the cncmv's mcr-
chandisc and contra band of war under
whatever form the auxiliary cruisers
will exercise the right of search ON the
high seas and in the waters under the
cnemy's jurisdiction, in accordance
with international law and the rcgula-
lions which will he published.
q. Defines what i includcd in con-
traband of war. naming weapons. am
ununition, equipments engines and IN
general, all the appliances used in war.
:. To lie regarded and Judged a. pir-
ates with all the rigor of the law are
captains, masters, officers and two
thirds of the crew of vessels which, not
being American, shall commit acts of
war against Spain. even if provided
with letters of marque issued 10y the
nited States