The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-23

world blockade of a number of Cuban
ports. and the second was the signing by
him of the bill providing for the utiliza-
ton of the volunteer forces in Cuba. The
proclamation announcing blockade of Gu
ban ports as signed by the President, fol-
lows:
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas BY joint resolution passed by
the Congress and approved April 90 1898,
and communicated. to the government of
Spain, it was demanded that said govern
ment at once relinquish its authority and
government in the Island of Cuba, and with
draw its land and naval forces from Cuba
and Cuban waters; and the President of the
United States was directed and empowered
to use the entire land and naval forces of
the United States and to call into active
service of the United States the militia of
the several States. to such an extent as
may be necessary to carry said resolution
into effect; and,
whereas. In carrying into effect said
resolution the President of the United
States finds it necessary to set on foot and
maintain a blockade of the north coast of
Cuba, including all ports en- said coast be-
tween Cardenas and Bahia Honda and the
port of Cienfuegos on the south coast of
Cuba
Now. Therefore, I. William Mckinley
President of the United States, in order to
enforce the said resolution, do hereby de-
clare and proclaim that the United States
of America have instituted and will main
tain q blockade of the north coast of Cuba
including ports on said coast between Car
denas and Bahai Honda and the port of
Cienfuegos on the south coast of Cuba
aforesaid, in pursuance of the law of the
United States and the law of nations appli-
cable to such cases. An efficient force will
be posted so as to prevent the entrance and
exit of vessels from the ports aforesaid.
Any neutral vessel approaching any of said
ports or attempting to leave the same,
without notice or knowledge of the estab-
lishment of such blockade, will be duly
warned by the commander of the blockading
forces, who will indorse on her register the
fact, and the date of such warning, where
such Endorsement was made; and if the
same vessel shall again attempt to enter
any blockaded port, she will be captured
and sent to the nearest convenient port for
such proceedings against her and her cargo
as prize, as may be deemed advisable. Neu-
trail vessels lying in any of said ports at
the time of the establishment of such
blockade will be allowed thirty days to issue
therefrom
In witness whereof have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 22d
day of April, A. d. 1898, and of the indie
pendence Of the United States the one hun
dred and twenty-second.
civilian M'KINLEY.
"By the Presidents:
JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary of State"
NO PRIVATEERING.
Following up the formalities beginning
with the blockade proclamation, the State
Department this afternoon addressed an
identical note to all of the representatives
of foreign nations accredited to Washing
ton notifying them of the policy to be pur-
sued by this government, in the matter of
privateering and neutrality. This was fol-
lowed by the sending of cable messages to
all American embassies and legations
abroad containing the same information in
q little more succinct form for presentation
to the governments to which they are ac-
credited. The statement was precisely SINH
lar in terms to that telegraphed by the
Associated Press last Wednesday, and its
formal adoption by the government as the
line of policy to be pursued was not pre-
vented by the criticism passed on it in the
Senate yesterday by Mr.. Money, of Missis-
sippi. In brief, it declares that our govern
ment will not resort to privateering; that
enemy's goods in neutral bottoms, save con-
traband, are exempt from seizure; that
neutral goods not contraband, under en-
emy's flag are safe from seizure and that
blockades, to be binding, must be effective.
In substance these are the principles laid
down in the agreement of Paris. of 1856.
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 salts
fled that the great commercial powers will
not tolerate the practice of privateering UNI
der the Spanish flag. Inasmuch as there ex-
lists a great amount of misrepresentation
not only among foreign countries, but also
among American shippers as to the char
acter of merchandise that is contraband and
liable to seizure during the progress of war,
the following unofficial, but authentic state
ment, has been obtained from a high Off
cial of the government:
I'm determining, according to the law of
nations, whether. merchandise is contra
band of war, it is classified:
"First-Absolute contraband.
''Second-OccasionaIo or conditional contra
band.
'Third--Goods not contraband.
"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 sub
servant to warlil1e use and which des-
tined to occasions and conditions as to their
character, shipment and destined use. Every
such case depends on it's own facts. The
third class includes articles not suited to
warIike use-such as church service and
musical instruments. household wares and
goods, and other such like articles, and in
GLIDING many that are purely mercantile in
character.
MUST BE FOR ENEMY'S USE.
mo article of merchandise is contraband
unless transported beyond the territorial
waters and jurisdiction of a neutral state
nor unless destined for an enemy's port or
for an enemy's use, or for an enemy's ship
upon the high seas. which belligerent ships
are permitted to police in search of an
enemys ships and contraband of war
mo final exhaustive definition of contra
band articles can be given. They are
changing with the progress of inventions.
Some articles We're formerly contraband
which now are not. and the converse is