The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-06
ATTORNEY GENERALS
OPINION INDEFINITE.
Says Some Delicate Questions Are
Involved in Matter of British
Station at Chalmette, La.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington, April 5-The opinion of the
Attorney General on the question whether
the Government is violating neutrality by
permitting the British Government to main
tain a station at Chaimette, La, from
which live stock and supplies are shipped
TO South Africa, was made public by the
State Department to-day along with the
letter written by the secretary of Governor
Heard Of Louisiana to the Secretary OF
State and Secretary Hays reply.
The Attorney Generals opinion is in
definite. In reply to the question of Gov
ernor Heard concerning the duties and pow
ers of State officials in the matter, he says
that they involve, CT course. the exercise
OF the usual civil means of preserving the
peace in the improbable event of its breach
in the manner suggested In the Governors
letter.
The Attorney General says that the ques-
ton, and a delicate one. is whether there
has been a departure Of neutrality on the
part of our Government in this matter. He
says that this Government should not
take action without mature consideration
by the President and his advisers"
Attorney Generals Conclusions.
After submitting some tentative PROPOSE
tions involving the established rules of in
< ~ tlhNAN ~ h"c ~
of a neutral power to two or more belliger-
ent nations; concerning articles contraband
of war, the Attorney General concludes as
follows:
In the case before us there is no statemen of
facts by you upon which to give an official opin-
ion as to the law. and / do not understand that
one has been requested. A number of allegations
and some. testimony have been sent me, and
they are sufficient to challenge attention. But the
first thing to be done is to ascertain whether
the allegations are true.
I have endeayored, as we'll as / could. In ad-
vance. to indicate the law to be applied to
them, and shall only add that. among the points
By which to be guided are the systematic char
acter of the transactions. their greater or less
Seytensiveness, their persistence in time. or the
reverse. their governmental character or the alb
sence OF II. their objects and results, and princi-
paly, OF course. their relations. II any. with the
prosecution Of the military operations in South
Africa.
other Correspondence On the Matter.
In his letter TO the Secretary of State
Governor Heard says that the horses and
mules shipped into Chalmette. as claimed.
are Indispensable to the operations of the
British Army. hence they must be consid-
cred as contraband of war, of greater value
than arms or soldiers.
He states that it is his opinion that 1t is
the function of the Federal Government.
and not of the State. to enforce obedience
TO the neutrality laws; yet IL such duty be-
longs to the State where the violation oc-
ours, he would not hesitate to act as the
low would warrant, and calls on the Secre-
tary of State for his Views on the matter.
In reply to Governor Heard Secretary Hay
Attorney General for an opinion on the
matter, and has also ordered an immediate
investigation of the facts In the case. The
opinion of the Attorney General follows.