The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-09

BuiidIng In Foreign Coumtriss-IIe 10
Not Authorized to Buy-NoihinE New
to Di,turb the Anticipation sof Peace.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March SIN
SPITE OF NUMEROUS CONFER
ENCES OF OFFICIALS OF THE CON-
TINUAT1oN OF THE PREPARA-
TIoNs NOW IN PROGRESS ON A
LARGE SCALE TO PUT THE coUN-
TRY IN A STATE OF DEFENSE, OF
THE oUTBURsT OF PATRIOTIC
SPEECHES IN CONGRESS, THERE
WAS A CERTAIN FEELING APPAR-
ENT IN THE BEST INFORMED CIR
Giles THAT THE SITUATION AS TO
OUR RELATIONS WITH SPAIN WAS
TO-DAY MUCH MORE FAVORABLE
THAN IT WAS YESTERDAY.
Perhaps the semi-official advices re-
ce!ved through the Associated Press.
from Madrid, indicating peaceful
purpose on the part Of the Spanish gov
ernment contributed in large measure to
that feeling, or It may have been that
the growlng Knowledge OF the vast ex-
tent of our own resources tended TO the
belief that they would impress others
with the fut!lIty OF attacking the Unl-
ted States.
However that may be the feeling pre-
vailed and at the white house. too. af-
ter the cabinet meeting wherein all OF
the facts that were laid unreservedly
before the cabinet members and dis
cuSsed While Captain Brownson is
going abroad for the government TO
leara what ships OF war are for sale
ard their condition, he will not neces-
sa"y make any purchases. The officer
left Washington Tonight and will take
the 81. Paul to Southampton, sailing
from New York. He will report his ar
rival Immediately ot the United States
embassy In London, but further than
that the captain declines to indicate the
places he will visit in Europe. He has
been furnished all OF the informal ton in
the possession OF the navy department
respecting the shipping In course of
construction in Europe. and had talk
to-day with Mr. Lane, who Is said to
have some OF these ships for sale, though
ne does not at present have the right In
the case OF the two small Brazilian bat
tleships now building at La Seinle IN
Frnnce As TO these, or indeed any
Brazilian or Chilean warships. It has
been discovered that Brazil and Chile
are parties to treaty by the terms of
which neither country can sell any OF
It's wa-ships unless the other also sells
ship The reason for this peculiar
provision Is to be found In the alliance
that Is reported 10 have been entered
into by these two countries for mutual
protection against Argentina and other
South American nations. Captain
B-ownson Goes no. expecte to stay
abroad long and goes only on condition
that he may return Immediately In case
of an open rupture.
As to the right to buy foreign war
ships all authorities agree that such
purchases may be made, even after hos
Titles have begun, II the neutral ma
ton exercises strict imparllality be-
tween the bellige.ents. and the ships
are not armed and outnttcd ready for
service The trade OF ship building Is
recognized as a legitimate one. which
may be carried on at all times. Mr..
Clay when secretary OF state, laid
down the principle as follows:
IF 1T BE FORBIDDEN BY THE
LAW Of THE NATIONS TO SELL TO
A BELLlGERENT AN ARMED YES
Sell COMPLETELY EQUIPPED AND
READY FOR ACTION, IT IS BE-
LlEVED NOT TO BE CONTRARY TO
THE LAW TO SELL A BELLIGER-
ENT VESSEL IN ANY OTHER
STATE. ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE
CONVERTIBLE INTO A SHIP OF
WAR"
Mr. Clay specified a case In which
Spain and one OF the South American
republics. then AZ war, each bought
snip from the same shipbullder, which
ships asterwnrd met on the sea and had
an engagement. He also specified the
case Of Russia's selling whole fleet OF
SHIPS 10 Spain, including some OF the
Russian ships OF the line, whilo Russia
held neutral attitude between Spain
hnd the southern republic with which
she was at war.
The subject has been before the
american courts and In one case Justice
Storey said: THE sale OF a vessel
armed or unarmed to a belllgcrent, Is
not forbidden by International law; such
Il vessel. even on Its way to the pur-
Snaser. Is liable to seizure 90 contra
band. a
In later case before the supreme
court tho distinction Is made between
the unlawful net of Nttlng out and
arming ship OF war for a bellIgerent,
ana the lnwful act OF selling such ships
70 be converted Into men OF war. The
tccision says that the distinction is the
same rs that between the lawful act OF
Gnnsm!th In selling pistol, and the
unlawful act of the same gunsmlth In
arranging that pistol Bhall be used
:"r criminal act.
:, n good deal Is being accomplished in
inc way OF preparation In both the
niVy and war departments. Tho con-
ference nt the navy department to-day
II9ked Into the procurement OF a suit.
nhle store OF ammunition. coal and
supplics, touched uron the question OF
ury docks and generally considered
munlocr OF other matters connected
WIN me operation of a warship. The
war department was not behind the
navy. General Flaglcr, chief OF ord
"nnce. IS very busy reaching out In ev-
Wy direction by means OF the telegraph
anH me mall 10 learn Just how far the
,,g.Hufces OF the big private manurnc-
nlng concerns can be relied upon 10
n'ne TO the aid OF the war department
III htMlng and eouinnInp n uoIun,no.f