New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-22
ENGLAND'S WAR INTERESTS.
QUESTIONS RAISED AND ANSWERED IN
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
..,r,,cAs POLICY CHEERED--No ANSWER FROM
spAIN-MR. BALFouR REFUSES TO DEFINE
CONTRABAND OF WAR.

spA1N-MR. BALFOJR REFUSES TO DEFINE
coNTRABAND OF WAR.
Ionhon April 21-Replying in the House Of
Commons to-day TO Sir Arthur Bower Forwood
Conservative. member for the Southwest Di-
,,s,on OF Lancashire; y. ]. Balfour the Govern
mont leader and acting Secretary Of State for
Foreign Affairs, said in regard to neutral YES
al. ,hat the Government had received from the
I,r,ted States this morning a notification that
:, wou,d adhere 10 the principles Of the Treaty
=, Paris The announcement was greeted with
cheers Mr. Balfour added that no answer on
the subject had yet been received from Spain.
Continuing. Mr.. Balfour said:
~ confidently expect the same answer from
Spain"
answering the question which Mr.. Dalzlel
cavc notice yesterday Of putting to-day. name
,v whether steps are to be taken 10 retain the
c,anIsh torpedo-boat Audaz. now locked at
Queenstown for repairs in the event or war
.rsaLins out before the repairs are completed.
an "a 10 prevent a repetition Of the Alabama
oos." Mr. Balfour said that IT, as he understood
"a he the case. the Audaz was a commissioned
chin Of the Spanish Navy it would be contrary
a. International practice to detain her.
Michael Davitt. Irish Nationalist. member for
corth Mayo. asked whether the Government
consider
pr,tisb colonies and British merchants that coal
,ust be considered contraband OF war during
.hs continuance Of hostilties between Spain and
,ha United States Mr.. Balfour replied
"Her Majesty's Government cannot lay down
.,s nrInclple that coal is contraband In the way
.ursested There is no doubt that 1t very fire.
usnt,v ia contraband but not Of necessity or
under all circumstances.
THE treaties Of 1895 and 1919 between Spain
and the United States. affirming between them
selves the principle that neutral flag covers
the enemy's goods are still In force. Whether
q steamer carrying American or Spanish Official
dspatches after war is declared Is liable to SELF
ure must depend upon the facts In the case
No general answer can be given.
Replying TO Rear-Admiral Lord Charles Beres-
ford. Conservative. member for York. Mr. Bal
four said he did not believe the interests or
British shipowners were threatened more III inns
case than in other cases of maritime warfare
adding that he did not believe 1t possible TO give
an exhaustive definition OF contraband OF war
Sir Richard Webster the Attorney General
rAplviDg to James II. DalZiel Liberal. member
for the Kirkcaldy District Of Scotland SAID that
IN view Of the declarations of the United states
and the acts Of Spain on previous occasions the
C;overnment could not contemplate that there
would be any interference with Britlsn soous on
board ships belonging 10 the belngerents or IN
reference with goods belonging to the beiIlSer.
OF war. ~
The action Of privateers. the Attorney-Gen-
eral added II the employment OF such NesseIs
was sanctioned. would depend on the views OF
the bell.gerents in regard 10 their rights OF IN
reference with neutral commerce
VAR SPIRIT IN THE GRAND CANARY.
AMERICAN CONSUL PREVENTED FROM SENDING
MESSAGE ABOUT TIE ARRIVAL
OF TROOPS
london. April 21-Mail news Just received
here from the island OF Grand Canary. one OF
the Canary Islands. says that up to April l.
three thousand Spanish troops had arrived
there and two thousand more were expected
that day. II had been arranged TO hold re-
view Of the troops that same night. out the
ceremony was postponed owing to the non-ar-
rival Of the last contingent. The troops were
being placed all over the island their arrival
causing great excitement
The Spanish officers were b,lleted at various
houses. including three English hotels at Las
Palmas. which were obliged to hoist Spanish
flags when the troops marched through the
town. After the troops had passed the English
hotels lowered the Spanish flags but they were
Immediately ordered to rehoist them.
When the mall advces left II rlmored at
the Grand Canary that the Stars and Stripes
over the United States Consulate had been torn
down by the rabble and trampled on 1t was
added that when the United States consular
agent, Thomas Miller. who Is a British subject
wanted TO send cable message 10 Washington
announcing the arrival OF the troops his mes
sage was stopped and he was Informed by the
military authorities that ~ the incident had oc
CURED in wartime he would have been shot.
According 10 account of a dinner held at
Las Palmas and published in Spanish paper.
one OF the speakers declared that II the Ameri-
cans landed on Grand Canary Island the streets
Of the town would be barricaded with the bodies
OF foreigners. The general feeling. however, ac-
cording TO the mall advces, appears 70 be
friendly 10 foreigners.
The militia OF the Canary Islands has been
rnobnzed and fifty officers were then coming
from Spain TO drill these troops. The excite
rnent at the islands is described as being so in
tense that the inha bitants were panic-stricken
when a foreign warship Unexpectedly entered
the harbor She was saluted by the forts, and
the people thought bombardment OF the place
had been begun.
no war vessels Of Spain had arrived at the
Grand Canary up TO April II.
WEDDINGS.