Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-06
MULE CAMP NOT ILLEGAL
British Supply Station Held to Violate No
International Statute.
cROwDER'S REPORT GOES TO HOUSE
says No Attempt Was Made TO Re-
cruit British Army at C~haImette
secretary Hay Finds No
Invalidity.

WASHINGTON, June 5.-The president
today sent to the house the report Of Col
onel Crowder, who made the investigation
Of the charges Of Governor Heard Of Louis
lana that the neutrality avs were being
violated at Chslmette, La.
Secretary Hay in a lsGer to the governor
Of louisiana, dated June 3, sums up the
main facts as found by Colonel Crowder
and also gives the rules Of international
usages respecting the sale Of goods to
parties at war. Mr.. Hay says the serious
point in the charges submitted by Mr.. Pear
son and by the Boer legislative committee
Of Philadelphia was that the British su-
thorities had enlisted men in this country
for service in South Africa. The govern
ment made particular efforts to find out II
there we're any basis for this charge, but
Mr.. Hay says that Colonel Crowder's re-
port shows that not a single instance could
be discovered by him.
Not a Military Camp.
What has been found Is that certain
officers of the army acting in the capacity
of purchasing agents and inspectors have
been engaged in the work of buying, col
Letting and inspecting horses and muies
and shipping them from Chalmette to
South Africa. There have been thirteen
some time since ordered the recall of all
OF them. The men employed under them
have all been Americans. The shipments
of mules and horses have been continuous
month after month since the outbreak Of
the war. The vessels In which they were
Sttpp Under the control Of the British gov
eminent and have not the character of
military or naval transports.
Chalmette was not a military camp or
post or base of military authorities as the
terms are defined by standard military
authorities, nor in any sense, save such as
would make a Touring mill or. a packing
house a base of military supplies, If flour
or canned meat were shipped from either
through a series of months to any bel
ligerent power.
Not an illegal Act.
Mr.. Hay next addresses himself to the
law N the matter and says the law has been
laid down time and again. He said the d.
rection Of Thomas Jefferson, at the time
of the hostilities between England and
France: lou citizens have always been
free to make, vend and export arms. To
suppress their callings because a war ex-
lists in foreign and distant countries in
which we have no concern hardly would be
expected"
las for the treaty of Washington Mr..
Hay says:
upon the present situation have not taken
the trouble to read the published dis
patches OF secretary flSn III DENIAL VI
President Grant, to Minister Schenck at
London at the time of the ratification of
the treaty.
In conclusion Mr.. Hay says:
The president regards it as evident in
view OF the quotations given above, that
what was asked for by MIR. Pearson was
the reversal of the consistent policy of the
United States since the formation of our
government There is no 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 al elaborate
presentation Of the conditions existing at
Chalmette. He sums up his findings Of
fact under six heads, in which he says:
No attempts to recruit to the British
army have been made at Chalmette station
nor does the evidence disclose any such at
tempts at other points in the I United
States. A few muleteers were recruited,
but this was against the orders of the
British government
All shipments have been from the port
OF New Orleans to South African ports,
upon vessels, chartered by the British adj
miralty, under ordinary commercial char
tiers.