The record-union., 1898-04-23
Notifying Them Of Our Policy as 10
PrIvataering and Neutrality.
The State Department Considering the
Question Of Calling Upon Congress
to Take Action Relative t0a
Declaration of War.


the most important acts of the Presi-
dent was the signing ana issuing of a
proclamation announcing the blockade
of Cuban ports.
Following up the formalities begin
ming with the blockade proclamation,
| the State Department this afternoon
addressed an Identical note to all of the
representatives of the foreign nations
accredited to Washington, notifying
them of the policy to be pursued by
this Government, in the matter Of pri-
watering and neutrality. This was
followed by the sending of cable mes
sages to all American Embassies and
Legations abroad, containing the same
/ information in a little more succinct
form for presentation to the Govern
ments to which they are accredited.
The statement was precisely similar in
terms to that telegraphed by the As
sociated 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
it in the Senate yesterday by Money
of Mississippi.
In brief it declares that our Govern
ment will not resort to privateering;
that enemy's goods on neutral bottoms,
save contraband, are exempt from seiz-
ure; that neutral goods not contraband
under the enemy's flag are exempt
from seizure, and that blockades to be
! binding, must be effective. In sub
stance, these are the principles laid
down in the agreement of Paris of
1886
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 privateer
ing, for they are satisfied that the great
commercial Powers will not tolerate
the practice of privateering under the
Spanish flag.
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 liableto seizure during the
progress of war, the following unofficial
but authentic statement has been OBJ
tanned from a high official of the Gov
ernment:
CONTRABAND OF WAR.
In determining, according to the law
Of nations, whether merchandise is
contraband of war, it is classified
1. Absolute contraband
2 Occasional or conditional contra
band.
g. Goods not contraband.
The nrst 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 subservient to
warlike use and which are destined for
the use of the enemy. They are con-
traband or not, according to occasion
and conditions as to their character,
shipment and destined use. Every
such case depends on its own facts.
The third class includes articles not
suited to warlike use, such as church
service and musical instruments,
household wares and goo6s and other
such like articles and including many
that are purely of a mercantile charac-
ter.
No article of merchandise is contra
band unless transported beyond the
territorial waters and jurisdiction of
neutral State nor unless destined for
an enemy's port or for an enemy's use,
or for an enemy's ship on the high seas,
which belligerent ships are permitted
to police in search of enemy's ships and
contraband of war.
No final and exhaustive definition Of
contraband articles can be given. They
are changing with the progress Of in
vention. Some articles were formerly
contra band which are not now, and the
converse is true. Each beliigerent Gov
ernment is competent to determine
what it will treat as contraband. It's
prescription of contraband articles is
conclusive. If such prescription should
be made in outrageous disregard of in
ternational law or treaty rights neutral
States affected would probably inter-
fere. Neither belligerent can treat
goods as contraband in violation of it's