The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-25
SPANS MANIFESTO DISCus>ED.
Question es 10 Whesher Coal shall We
Held Contraband NOt Determined.

0uestton eS 10 N hetber Coal shall We
Held Contraband Not Determined.
WASHINGTON. April 2i.-The Spanish
article published by the Gaceta as to the
attitude OF that government regarding
privatcering. and the question whether or
not coal shall be held contraband OF war.
was discussed by the state department Of
fieials today. In response 10 questions pat
TO him by representative OF the Associ-
ated Press. Judge William l.. Pennfieid.
the solicitor OF the department, made the
following unofficial statement which he
said IL not to be regarded as indicating II,
any way the action and policy Of this gov
ernment. but is given for the information
of merchants and shippers:
This government has not yet officially
prescribed llst Of articles which 10 Will
treat con.rahand Of war II Snain has
taken any such action II is no, vet made
public. Each government is competen, 10
prescribe its own list for the guidance OF
its own authorities Such a list T. conclusive
upon the government making H. and uron
all neutral nations. In the absence OF any
disregard Of the trssSr engagements and Of
international law. Any gross disregard of
SUCH law or treaty obligations would per-
haps provoke the intervention OF any ne,-
tral state affected
Until such list is prescribed the aiies-
ton whether articles captured ar, contra
hand OF war viii be governed xenerallx by
the law Of nations and specifically by tho
treaty siipuiations by the beiligerent can.
tor and the neutral state to whose subject
the articles belong
'Interrational law gives no hard ana fast
rule for The determination Of the question
whether articles are contraband. except
the general rules that all articles az an
essentially warlike character and destined
for an eneny's use are coatrahand.
Many articles. such ~ provisions coal
etc. are of an Gnequivocai character and
II destined for the enemy's use are deemed
contra band
III follows that II such n llst should lae
prepared by the United States and Spain
they NAV he identical or may he widely
divergent, depending on the policy Of each
government. The action of eaca COVER.
rnfrf VIII bind only Itself and Its own prize
courts and neutrats. The question wherh-
or contr1hand or not. nigh; .haeefor. .le-
pend upon whether the capsor was Amer
lean or Spanish. And shippers In ucutrai
vessels would not only have 70 consider the
goods shipped bat whether destined fer
American or Spanish ports. AMI whether
the goods are included IN the list announced
az contra band by the one or the other
state
This government fas alFeads announced
that it will not resori 10 privateerinz.
Spain nas ammo iGced the same lsolicY. Ia
the light Of the preylouz declaration ~
this government. Sgsain's further announce
ment that she will treat our prtvateers AZ
pirates is brutusn fairen worthy oF Don
Qulxote. The spanish government has puh-
I.Shasf its intention 20 exercise the right of
search. The right - do 20 - nnaou1tef
hut The right can oe II wfuliY exercised only
for nv. purpose # determining tie matioa-
aiity og tire ssIr ard lts destination whefa-
er iix goods are neutral or ennynt. whether
contra band or not. and whether itss conduct
81 unneusral or neutral Wastne- Snalss
adsn;s the policy adopted by tifis govern
.Ytnt that the EsGtFaI slag protects the
gssads Il the vessel and isx c0Giu-t are asl-
trsI. only esasfaoausi goods in sscss snirs
are subject 10 capture. 0f couTs&. slg u,4r-
chanf shsas ssUs' respect an eft scsire hiork-
ads on tue penalty Of capture ard coaesca-
-