New-York tribune., 1901-03-24
SELLING ARMS ABROAD.
DIFFICULT TO PREVENT THEIR SHIP.
MENT FROM THIS COUNTRY.

The natural market for the sale Of arms TO South
American governments revolutionary juntas Is
New-YOrl City. and to this port come their agents
10 obtain them. The manufacturers of guns adapt
ed TO the of armies have representatives here
and to some of them this branch OF their business
is so important that they will say little about It.
because OF the possibility Of interference with their
business. A reporter OF The Tribune tried to get
some Information from two of these firms
regarding this branch OF their business and they
politely. but steadfastly declined to give anv OF
definite character
General Uribe-Uribe. the leader OF the revolution
airy party in the Republic of Colombia who arrived
here recently the steamer Philadelphia with
the alleged purpose OF buying arms. will have little
difficulty in doing The United States in its
revised code Of neutrality laws has no pro-
vision for the prevention OF the purchase arms
for war purposes The laws provide against the
acceptance OF commissions within the Jurisdiction
OF the United States 10 serve in a foreign war
against Power with which the United States is at
peace. They also provide against the tting out of
expeditions, military naval. but do not have any
thing TO say regarding the purchase of arms for
shipment out of the country. To include arms, 1t
is considered, would interfere with the right of an
individual TO buy arms for his own use. The Gov
ernment would probably make an effort to prevent
the shipment of until their ownership was
proved. N a complaint were lodged with the State
Department by a friendly nation against which
they were to be used Should the complaining coun-
Try iail 10 prove tnat they be used as
claimed. they would be released. however
This view established at the time Of the
franco-Prussian war. II was the subject of q
famous debate in the Senate between Senators
sumner and Carl Schurz. man. supposed 10 be
an agent OF the French Government was arrest
ed. IL was believed that the arms which he had
| purchased in New-England Intended FOR Tie
use OF MS country. He was afterward released as
~ could not be proved that the arms were in
tended for France. and he was allowed 10 shin HE
| arms. ~T ~ Siiip MS
One q the methods often used by agents Of
souIh american countries 10 get guns out of this
country Country Is TO purchase them through an outside
party, and have them shipped 10 some West I,iian
port whence they are reshpped their destination
| s9metiHes the arms delivered by tha Or,
WI WHICH sells them al some warehouse where they
aIe l.Een care or by the persons for whom they
are intended OF course they do not ask any oi,es
It's It's ., w, persons who come 10 buy of them
INC usual course for foreign Covernment IN
pursue In obtaining the assIatance OF the f'nite1
.ssstfs ~ preventing the shipment OF arms is m
MD, me s,ate department of the expected ship
inshl. Ihs Stale Department in turn informs the
treasury Department. and the Customs Coliactors
OF the ports through which an attempt 10 shin
| the arms may be made 10 he on the
| lookout for them Clearance is then refused unfiI
an Htteihlt 70 connect the arms with the parties
complained Of has been made