Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-05-26
A SPANISH PROTEST.
The Cortes the Scene Of Remark
able Debate
MAKE an APPEAL TO THE POWERS
Ali Caused by a Charge That American
"a. WarshIpS Displayed the Spanish
Flag with Intent TO Deceive
a Spanish Garrison

tAbB WIN AMtcnN ~ DoCSANo
a Spanish Garrison
Madrid, May 24.-In the senate yes
terday Count Almenas vehemently
protested against the alleged action
of some American warships in dis
playing the Spanish flag in order to
deceive the garrisons OF Guantanamo,
as announced on Saturday last, in a
dispatch from Captain General Blan-
co, who added mat the american
ships were Immediately recognized
and repulsed." The count asked if
the government had notified the pow
ers of this incident.
The minister of the interior, Senior
Capedon, replied that he had noti-
fed the powers and described this re-
ported action as "cowardly and in
iquitious."
Count Almenas said that, in view of
the Americans manner of making
war, Spain must immediately decree
privateerng, in order to utterly de-
stroy American shipping"
To this the minister of the interior
replied that the government had de-
liberated upon the matter, land had
even taken certain decisions, which
would shortly be known"
Count Guendulain said that the
Americans "act of piracy was adj
mitted by certain theorists as inter-
national law"
Canon NTor+;ra1 poobaoo papnor1yad
that it was doubtful whether such an
act was legal "But" he added, Gin
face of the Americans conduct in the
war with Spain we must not show
consideration for them"
Continuing, the speaker protested
against SPANS adherence to the Gen
eva convention, whereupon the minis
ter of the interior replied that Spain
had not yet entered the convention.
Senator Condo, professor of inter-
national law at the Madrid university,
warmly denounced what he was
pleased to term "the base proceed
ings" of the United States, declaring
that if Washington authorized such
acts, at did not deserve the name of
a civilized government"
The professor then proceeded to un-
fold lengthy Indictment of the al
legged war methods of the Americans,
insisting that they have shown "no
respect for the rights of people in the
capture of merchantmen and bonn
bardments," reiterattng that the acts
nf AZ TT,ifa1 NJ fhnea Of
a civilized country.
When the royal decree was gazetted
on April "a, in Madrid, announcing
the breaking off of diplomatic rela-
tions between Spain and the United
States and declaring that state of
war existed between the two coun-
tries, the rules which Spain proposed
to observe during the war were out
lined. Clause three of the degree
read:
Notwithstanding that Spain has
not adhered to the declaration of
Paris, the government, respecting the
principles of the law of nations, pro-
poses to observe and hereby orders to
be observed the following resolutions
of maritime law" Then followed the
rules in regard to contraband of war
and SPANS definition of a blockade
Clause read:
"The Spanish government, uphold
ing its right to grant letters of mar
que, will at present confne itself to
organizing with the vessels of the
mercantile marine, which will CO.
operate with the navy, according to
the needs of the campaign, and will
be under naval control.
"Clause SIN order to capture the
enemy's ships and confscate the enc
my's merchandise and contraband of
war the auxiliary cruisers will exer-
else the right of search on the high
seas and in the waters under the enc
my's jurisdiction in accordance with
international law and the regulations
which will be published"
Washington. D. C., May 24.-The
dispatches from Madrid giving the
sharp debate in the cortes over the
alleged flying of the Spanish flag by
American warships, created much |
comment in naval circles. SPANS
protest to the powers that this use OF
the flag was "cowardly and iniuuit-
Gus" was dismissed by naval officers
with the statement that international
law writers agreed on fine right TO
use an enemy's flag for purpose of
deceit, so long as the flag is hauled |
down before shot is fired. The
United States naval regulations make |
specific provision on this point. The
navy department recently issued an
edition. of sgpw's naval precedence,
a standard work on naval usage in
time OF peace and war. In this, the
doctrine on the use OF an eDemy's
flag Is stated as follows:
The regulations Of the United
States navy state THAT the use of a
foreign flag to deceive AIN enemy Is
permissible. but that It must be
hauled down before a gun Is fired.
and under no circumstances il an
action to be commenced or an en-
gagement fought without the dis
play OF the rational ensign"
The Stationery made by the SuaR J