The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
WE DO SELL WAR MATERIAL
AND MAI. TO BOER OR BRIToN, WIN
or VIOLATING NEUTRALITY.

Answer of Secretary Hny to n Communicn-
tion From tho Envoy Mt The Hague OF
the Orange Free stnte-Our Merchant.
Could Deliver the Goods ut Their Risk.
A correspondent writes to The Sun. draw
ing attention to tho news dispatches which
from time to time tell Of the purchase OF mules
In tho Sou Invest for service In the British
army in South Africa. and OF the purchase Of
stores and munitions here In the same in
terest.
~ these articles are true" the corre-
spondent says, and have no reason to doubt
them. II would appear to me that the United
States Government IL not neutral nation.
ns had all alCne supposed. but Is allied with
Great Britain in this South African struggle.
How isit Ought tho United States Govern
ment to allow any such transactions2"
Mules. provisions and ammunition have been
purchased In this country for British army
uses In South Africa and they have been
shipped hence. according to dispatches from
var ious parts Of the country. which have been
read by all. The Beers might purchase the
same sorts OF articles or any others. II they de-
sired and offered to nay for them. 1t Ia likely
that II they did 40 and the British got early In
formation OF the fact. the British would seize
the goods In transit. a handy act which tho
Beers facilities do not make 40 easy for them
against the British. But that Ia not an affair
OF the United States or Of their citizens
who sell the goods. II is only tho Beers
misfortune and the Britons' good fortune. The
shirmcnt OF a large quantity OF ammunit'o on
from here early last week. following earlier
| shipments. was brought to the attention OF the
Secretary Of state by representatives OF tho
Beers, and Secretary HAYS response reached
|. this city yesterday. Charles II. Pierce Cons sui
General OF tho orange Free state IN New York.
received a communication from Dr. Hendrix
Muller. Envoy Extraordinary OF that State at
| The Hague. calling his attention to the ship
| ment " : 100000 cartridges i.om bridgeport
| factory to South Africa and stating that
another large o.icr hal been given to the
same manufacturer ny the British govern
! ment. Mr. Fierce forwarded the adv!ccs from
Or. Muller to Secretary Hay. who replied
y making quotations from various authorities
| on int national law and exp aiming the prao-
| ,ice OF this country. II. cited kents commen-
| taries. quoting a. follows:
| 1T was cnnt"niei on the part OF the French
nation. in l7HJ. that neutral governments
| were bound to restrain their subjects from
So linI or eNror. ng articles contrsbaud OF
war 20 the r. ige' ent powers. II waS success
| fully -hown. on the part OF the Quilted States
ths' neutru!s mas lawfully selI. at hon-. u q
/ beliiser.nt purchaser, or carry themselves 10
the bell ger-nt. powers c,niraband articles.
subject 10 the right o; ~-.zuro - 'rin-ttu, This
! rlGh' hA- nee s"n eNrIcity t-clnred Toy the
/ Iul,c'ai antnQiti" % e. e county"
Secretary Hay quoted also Mr.. Justice Story
/ In 'h- case ii the Shp''ssiulA lr dad whero
| .hEs ~ IN tho laws ~ nations that torhiis our
| citizens irons ni.ng armed vessels "a well M
| mum tons Of war 10 . foreign port for sale
/ II i Commercial venture which no notion u
| bound to pr0hili'. ana VIII ch MY exposes thu
| persons engaged Ia II 10 the penalty OF confs-
| cation
TIE serretary's letter 20 DR.. Pierce went on
= quote ca ., Justice cha IN che cas-. o the
| Bermuda. a. io.io~s: "N-ucrsls in their own
country NAV sell 10 hPllig-rrnts whatever
| bclliger"nts chonse 10 buy. The principal ex-
| c~pt,ous TO thls rul. are that neutrnls must
| NOT sal 10 one brlilRer-nt what they refuse TO
| tn. other" and more to that effect.
| Secretary Hay wrote: An Examination of
| M,rton's Digest OF International Law sectIu
pArtm"n' " this fOyrrDmont from the ear - {
| period have maintained the correctnrss Of the
, docrrir. stated ny Chancellor Kent. and that
! In this position they have been supported by
tho decision. OF tnc court. ~ the United States
Dnd 10y the opinions Of eminent authorities on
| in'ernationN' law. Under tho circumstances
| therefore hni IN view Of the fact that The law
| tied. the DrpH rtmrn' docs uct consider " nsc-
| essnry 10 cause m investigation as to the cor
! rectness NJ the iAe's alleged ! DIR. Muller"
! DR.. Pierce had 10 comments To make on tho
s-cretarys otter. which answers the points
| raised by tn" correspondent OF THE srS. who
! explained hIs com uuicat,ou 70 he due to q
desire always to see ftl' pay. II 10 apparent
gems arc cor earned there - 'air Fay. any AL
vantage or eiIner han regard ng the bellig.r-
pnts bong due IN tuoIus i''"s In no way under
the control OF this Government.