The record-union., 1898-04-27
CAPTURE or
SPANISH
VESSELS.
The President Issues a
Proclamation
Laying Down Rules as to the
Seizure Of Prizes.
Ships in American Ports Allowed
Until May 2lSt to Depart.
Ships Met at Sea Shall Be Permitted TO
Continue on Their Voyage If Loaded
Before That Time in the
United States.

WASHINGTON, April 26.-Conditions
IN Washington are rapidly settling
down to those of actual war Notices
came to the State Department from the
four quarters of the globe to-day show
ing that the nations as rule are pre-
pared to assume an attitude of strict
neutrality as between the United States
and Spain in the present struggle In
most cases they were in answer to the
identical notes sent out yesterday by
the State Department to all United
States Embassies and Legations, in
structing them to inform the Govern
ments to which they were accredited
that war has existed since April DIST.
Great Britain has always taken an adj
vanced stand in the principles of neu-
trality, SO that it was with great inter-
est that the news was received here of
the terms of the neutrality proclama-
ton issued in London
On the whole, the officials are dispos-
ed to take the view that the strict adj
herence of Great Britain to these rules
will be rather more advantageous to the
United States than to Spain. particu-
larry as we are now operating in the
naval sense close to our own base of
supplies, and in all probability soon will
cut Spain off from the two bases that
she now has in the neighborhood of
Cuba.
The President issued a proclamation
during the day laying down rules as
to the seizure of prizes, and the result,
it is believed, will be the release of some
of the ships already captured, though
it will be for the prize courts to deter
mine in each case whether the condi-
tons under which the ships were cap
tured are such as to warrant release.
The impression prevails that the Bue-
naventura, the first on the list of prizes,
Will be declared no prize. The case of
the Panama, whose seizure was report
ed to-day, is more complicated, owing
to the fact that While otherwise ex-
empt, the ship was reported to have
contained supplies for the Spanish
army in Cuba, which are contraband.
However, it may be said that while
the settlement of these questions will
be left to the courts, the Administra-
ton believes the greatest liberality
should be shown in the application OF
the laws where a vessel is not CONTRA
band or attempting to run the block
ade. That is shown in the liberal terms
of the proclamation itself, by which the
prize court must be guided.
It is noted also that the Administers
ton has not been deferred by any criti-
cism on the part of Congress from
again formally pIedging itself to the
nations of the world to refrain from
privateering and abide by the declara-
ton of Paris of 1856.
So far as is known, all the United
States Consuls have made their way
safely out of Spain. Consul Fay at
Dania has reported to the department
from Lisbon; Consul Bowen at BARGE
Iona from Paris. and Consuls Carroll at
Cadiz and Bartelam at Malaga from
Gibraltar. The department has assur-
ed itself that the others are safe.
Secretary Sherman retired finally to-
day from the position of Secretary of
State and his successor was confirmed
in the person of Judge Day. John Bas-
sett Moore undoubtedly will be confirm
ed tomorrow in Judge Days place.
The latter is expected to return to
Washington in about two days time.
The army reorganization bill became
a law during the day, and the War De-
partment officials have begun to devise
the best means of carrying out the pur-
poses of the Act, which will result in
an increase of the regular army to
more than 60,000 men.
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