The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-06
No VIOLATION Of
NEUTRALITY LAW
Report of the Investigation
at Chalmette,
SUBMITTED THF HOUSE
SUBMITTED TO THE HOUSE
No Attempt to Recruit the British
Army Made Here.
A GOVERNMENTAL SKIPPING AGENLY
ChaImette Was Used For the Shipment CT Bu
One Class of Military Supplies, Says
tie Report by Colonel
~Urowder.
CBy the Associated Press.)

tl1y the ASSOcldbeu ITeSS.t
Washington, June 5.-The President
today sent to the House the report of
/ Colonel Crowder, who made the investi
CATION of the charges of Governor Heard,
of Louisiana, that the neutrality lays
were being violated at Chalmette, La.
The message of transmittal is purely
formal. 1t encloses a copy Of letter
written by the Presidents direction TO
Governor Heard, dated June Srd. which
sums up the main facts as found by Col
onel Crowder and also gives the rules
on international usage respecting the sale
of goods to parties at wa: Mr.. Hay
says he found the point in the charges
submitted by Mr.. Pearson and by the
Beer legislative committee Of Philadel-
phia was that the British authorities
had enlisted men in this country for SER
vice in South Africa. The government
made particular efforts to find out if
there was any basis for this charge, but
Mr.. Hay says that Colonel Crowders
report shows that not single instance
could be discovered by him. Mr.. Hay
says that this charge must be considered
not only as improved, but as having
been made without the slight pretenoc
OF justification of proof Continuing he
says:
What has been found is that certain
officers of the British army acting in the
capacity of purchasing agents and in
spectors have been engaged il the work
OF buying, collecting and inspectins
horses and mules at different places in
the United, States and shipping them
from Chalmette to South Africa. There
have been thirteen of these officers. rbh
British Government sometime since or
dered teh recall of all Of them. The men
employed under them have all been
Americans. The shipment of mules and
horses have been continuous month af-
ter month since the outbreak of the war.
The vessels in which they were shipped
were of private ownership and not under
the control of the British Government
antl have not the character OF military
or naval transports. Chailnetta as not
military camp or post, nor a base of
military supplies as the terms are de-
fined by standard military authorities:
nor in any sense save such as would
make a Touring mill or . packing house
base of military supplies if flour or
canned meat were shipped from either
through series of months to any bill
legent power. Chalmctte was simply a
shipping station for the loading and.
shipping of mules Phsically thc station
consisted of half of a set of buildings
which did not differ from the other half
of the same set which was not hired by
the British authorities, the buildings Of
this unhired half being continued in their
former use"
MIR. Hay next addresses himself 10 the
law in the matter and SAYS our duty has
been laid down again and again. He
quotes from the declaration of Thomas
Jefferson when Secretary Of State. at
tic time of the hostilities between Eng
land France:
Oar citizens have always peen free
to make, vend and export arms. To sup
press their callings because a war exists
in foreign and distant countries in which
we have no concern hardly would be ex-
rected."
Similar declarations by Alexander
Hamilton, President Pierce. Chief Ius-
tice Chase and President Grant are
cited.
las for the treaty of Washington" Mr.
Hay says those who allege that it has
any bearing upon the present situation
have not taken the trouble TO read the
published dispatches of Secretary Fish
ON behalf of President Grant to Minis
ter Schenck at London at the time of
the ratification of the treaty..
The dispatch of June 10th, 1871, states
that The President understands and in
sists that the second rule of Article VI
does not prevent the open sale of arms
or other military supplies, etc
In conclusion MIR. Hav saws:
The President regards it as evident,
in view Of the quotations given above
that what was asked for BY Mr. Pear
son was the reversal of the consistent
policy of the United States since the
formation of our government, The right
of our citizens to sell horses and mules
and TO shin them from New Orleans to
any other port is as undoutted a their
right to ship -four and meal whether for
the use Of civilians or soldiers OF the
country of either belligerent There is
no shadow of excuse for the claim that
there has been any violation of the duties
and obligations Of neutrality on the part
OF this nation.
Colonel Crowder's report is an elabo-
rate presentation OF tho conditions exist