The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-04-23
THE GOVERNMENTS POLICY

THE GOVERNMENTS POLICY NOTE ADDRESSED TO POWERS RE-
 GARDING REMEMBERING.
 to Resort to This Sort of Warfare Contraband Goods Defined and C1assi- fied-Transportation of the Army-Work Rushing in Ordnance and Engineering Departments.
 Washington, April 22.-There were to-day two important steps in Wash ington towards actual hostilities, not to mention the overt act involved in the seizure of the Spanish vessel Buena Ventura off Key West. The first was the issue by the president of his proc blockade of a number of Cuban ports and the second was the signing by him of the bill providing for the utilization of the volunteer forces in war. Then in addition there was a notable retire ment from the navy department in the case of Captain R. B. Bradford, chief of the equipment division.
 Captain Bradford Resigns.
 Captain Bradford is not only an off, cer of high scientific attainment, but Is equipped as well in great practical ex- perience in naval matters. Although he has not held his present office long and by customs is entitled to nearly three years of further service here, he has become so impatient to join in ac- tive service that he to-day addressed the following letter to the president: s'I respectfully tender my resignation as chief of the bureau of equipment of the navy department. It has been a great pleasure to serve during your ad- ministration in my capacity and I beg to express my thanks for the honor conferred upon me by your appoint ment to such responsible office. This resignation is rendered only that may ask for active service afioat."
 Will Have Good Ship.
 Captain Bradford addressed a simi- lar letter to Secretary Long with the addition of request to have a com- mand of an active warship. The resig- nation will be accepted and by virtue of his rank, as well as to mark the high regard entertained for him by the administration, Captain Bradford will be given one of the best available ships in the navy. The naval authorities re- ceived with pleasure the manifestation of patriotism on the part of a distin- guished New Yorker in rendering to the government without compensation his speedy steam yacht.
 Policy of the Government.
 The state department to-day address, ed 8 note to all of the representatives of foreign nations accredited to Wash ington notifying them of the policy to be pursued by this government This was followed by the sending of cable messages to all American embassies and legations abroad containing the same information. The statement was precisely similar in terms to that tele- graphed by The Associated Press last Wednesday and its formal adoption by the government as the line of policy to be pursued was not prevented by the criticism passed upon 1t in the senate yesterday by MT. Money of Mississippi In brief, it declares that our govern ment will not resort to privateering, that enemy's goods in neutral bottoms, save contraband, are exempt from seiz- ure; that neutral goods, not contra band, under enemy's flag are safe from seizure and that blockades to be bind- ing must be effective. In substance, these are the principles laid down in the agreement of Paris of 1S56 The officials are not disturbed at the semi official notice from Madrid that Spain will refuse to be bound by the same principles and forbid privateering, for they are satisfied that the great com mercial powers will not tolerate the practice of privateering under the Spanish flag.
 Goods Liable to Seizure.
 Inasmuch as there exists a great amount of misapprehension, not only among foreign countries, but also among American shippers, as to the character of merchandise that is con- traband and liable to seizure during the progress of war, the following unofficial statement is correct:
 Contraband of war-In determining, according to the law of nations, wheth- CT merchandise is contraband of war, it is classified as:
 1-Absolute contraband.
 2-Occasional or conditional contra band.
 3-Goods not contraband
 What the Glasses Include.
 The first class includes all goods of an essentially warlike character. The second class includes provisions naval stores, coal, horses, certain kinds of machinery, certain forms of steel, iron etc., which are subseryient to warlike