The sun., 1898-03-10
CAN'T BUY ENGLISH SHIPS.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT PRO-
HIBITS THE SALE.

1
Sell warships to either tho United states
or spa,n-she May want Then, HersciE
WASHINGTON March 9-what appears to be
| an effectual check to the efforts OF tho United
States to obtain warships from English firms
| has been given by the unexpected action Of the
British Government in notifying the shipbuild-
! ers that they must not give options to the
| United States on vessels under construction or
make contracts with this country for building
new ones without obtaining permission from the
| Admiralty Office In London. This 10 not to be
| taken as an act of unfriendliness on the part
| OF Great Britain as 1t applies equally to
| Spanish endeavors to buy ships from the
| Armstrong;, Thornyoroft. and other Eng
| lish firms This is generally regarded here
| as IN indication that Great Britain has
| already decided to assert her neutrality
between Spain and the United States and that
| she does not intend to take any chances Of be-
| coming involved in another expensive interna-
| tional episode like that OF the Alabama But
| 1t is suggested that. In view Of the compllca'
| tions in the East, Great Britain may have de-
sire to purchase the ships herself.
| THE Sun reporter was told to-day on good
| authority that Sir Julian Pauncefote's visit to
the White House yesterday was to inform Presi.
dent Mckinley that. II hostilities camo from the
! Maine disaster, his Government would consider
that the destruction Of the battleship was tho
| first act of war. and that war would
| be regarded as having begun on Feb.
| Is. the date the Maine was blown up. There
| fore, Sir Julian held according to THE Suns
! informant, the British Government was already
occupying a neutral position and would not
| abandon that attitude unless hostilities on ac-
count Of the Maine AFFAIR were averted.
The gentleman who gave THE Sun reporter
| this information said he had 1t from an excel-
| sonrce hu would NOT vouoh for abnoluta
! accuracy. From very high authority, however.
| it was learned that there was absolutely no
truth in this story of Sir Julian's business with
| the President. The notification that British
| shinbuilding firms had been forbidden to sell
| warships to either tho United States or Spain
came from Lieut.. Colwell the naval attache OF
| the American Legation in London, who got it
from the shipbuiders with whom he has been in
consultation regard to their ability to furnish
armored vessels and torpedo boats to tho United
States Navy. He reported that the four 30-knot
| torpedo boat destroyers which Thornycroft is
| building and which tho Navy Department
| hoped to secure. were mot available" for the
| reason given.
| The decision of Great Britain applies. 1t is
| said, not only to vessels of war which British
| firms building on speculation. but also to
| ships under construction for foreign countries.
| The four Thornycroft boats. for example, are
/
| there is q suspicion in naval circles, based per.
| haps on some definite knowledge, that Great
| Britain intends to add them to her own navy
| after the manner of European powers in dealing
| with all things Chinese. While nothing to show
| the real reason for the British Governments
| surprising action has been received here. 1t is
believed at the State and Navy Departments
that 1t was based the decision rendered by
| the Geneva Commission Of Arbitration.
ntral MT ha iaRin
| held. "is bound to use due diligence to prevent
| the fitting out, arming or eQuipping within its
| Jurisdiction of any vessel which 1t has reason
| able ground to believe is intended to cruise or
| carry on war against the power with which it is
| at peace; and also to use like diligence to pre-
| vent the departure from its jurisdiction OF any
vessel intended to cruise or carry on war
above. such vessel having been specially adapted
| in whole or in part within such jurisdiction to
| warlike use"
| Sir Alexander Cockburn Lord Chief Justice OF
England, the British representative in the
| Board of Arbitration. referring to this ruling.
said that though the effect Of it might be
| pocuniary sacrifice on the part OF Great Britain.
| It was one which We cheerfully made on the one
aide and trust will not fail to be appreciated
in the same spirit by tho other"
Instead of finding cause for complaint in tho
attitude of the British authorities. tho Wash
| over the turn tho affair has taken, for there
| was the greatest concern felt on account of the
| reports that Spain had made arrangements
| for buying warships under construction at Eng
\ lsh yards. Tho Navy and State departments
have made every effort to ascertain the truth of
| these reports. and while their advices up to
| date point to the conclusion that no option on
single ship has been obtained by the Spanish
Government. 1t is known absolutely that Spain
| hna not vxa n ENGLAND hv
direct purchase. The rumors were reiterated
| with such frequency and positiveness that the
| Administration has felt much uneasiaess.
| There is q general belief In official circles
| that Great Britain is distinctly In sympathy
| with the United States in regard to the general
| Cuban question. and II compelled to take sides
| in war would unquestionably throw her In
| iuence to this country. international obliga-
| tions, however. make it necessary for the Brit
| fish Government to remain strictly neutral. and
| In view of her experience with the United States
| over the disastrous cruise of the Alabama she
| is exercising caution which 10 not remarkable
| under the circumstances.
| 1t was learned this evening that no option had
| been secured or contracts made for purchasing
| any warships under construction abroad by tho
| United States Government. Thonaval attaches
of tho United States in England. France. and
| other countries actively engaged In endoAv-
4 oring to obtain necessary information about
| the condition of purchasable warships for
| active service, and the prospect of OBJ
| tanning any Of them to augment tho American
| navy. Their efforts have met with no success
1 thus far. The Chilian srmorclad OHiggins.
which the Navy Department had every hope of
securing will not be available for use In any
sudden emergency. even II she can be obtained.
| Tho Thornycroft Company. which reports to
| Naval Attache Colwell that the four torpedo
boat destroyers which 1t is building are mot
| available" suggested that 1t could build the
| same number of similar craft In fifteen months.
period entirely too remote to suit the present
| plans of this Government. An effort is
| being made to obtain from the Italian Govern.
ment option on tho battleship Lepanto.
which WAS reported to be for sale. This vessel
was built In the eighties at Leghorn. and while
somewhat antiquated can be made into very
| serviceable floating fortress.