The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-06-06
REPORT OF CROWDER
CHAL1GETTE, La, NOT A BRIT
ISH MILITARY POST.
Secretary Hay Says That No Law Of
Neutrality Of the United States
Has Been Violated by
England.

w aSniH&tOIi, June o.-A ne ETtSiueHI TO-
day sent to the House the report of Colo
mel Crowder, who made the investiga-
ton of the charges OF Governor Heard
of Louisiana, that the neutrality laws
were being violated at Chalmetta. La. In
transmitting the report the President sent
the following message:
ITO the House Of Representatives:
I'm response to the resolution of the
House of Representatives of June 2. 1902,
requesting the President to send to the
House of Representatives II not incom-
patib.e with the interests of the public
services full information of the investi-
cation recently made by his order. as to
the alleged supply camp In the State of
Louisiana by the collection and shipment
to South Africa of military supplies in
Guiding horses and mules | transmit
herewith copy of the report from Colo
mel Crowder. the officer who made the
investigation referred to land a copy of
letter which, by my direction. the Sec
rotary of State addressed on the third OF
this month to the Governor of Louisiana
being an answer to the communication
from Governor Heard in which he charged
certain violations of the neutrality laws
of the United States at the port of Chal-
mette, La, which communication with
its enclosures already being laid before
the House of Representatives IN COM
pliance with it's resolution of April TO-.
1902 and is printed In House Document
No. SIS, 57th.''
Secretary Hay In a letter to the Gov
ernor of Louisiana dated June 3. sums
up the main facts as found by Colonel
Crowder and also gives the rules OF the
international usage respecting the sale OF
goods to parties at war. Mr.. Hay says
the serious point In the charges sub
mitted by Mr.. Pearson and by the Boer
legislative committee of Philadelphia was
that the British authorities had enlisted
men in this country for service In South
Africa, The government made particu-
lar efforts to find out If there was any
basis for this charge, but Mr.. Hay says
that Colonel Crowder's report shows that
not a single instance could be discovered
by him.
Moreover, the Attorney General on May
H. requested the Boer legislative commit
tee for evidence which would substantiate
this charge. but received no information
from them on this point. Mr.. Hay says
this charge must be considered not only
as improved but as having been MADE
ton or proof
Continuing, he says:
what has been found Is that certain
officers OF the British army acting in the
capacity of purchasing agents ana In
spectors have been engaged in the work
OF buying, collecting and inspecting
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. The
British Government 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 shipped were OF pri-
vate ownership and not under the control
of the British Government and have not
the character OF military or naval trans
ports.
"Chalmette was not a, military camp
or most. nor base of military supplies
as the terms are defined by standard snilt-
tary authorities; nor in any sense save
such as would make Touring mill or
a packing house a base OF military sup
plies. If -four or canned meat were snip
ned from either through series OF
mette was simply shipping station for
the loading and shipping Of mules. my
sically the station consisted OF hair OF
set of buildings which did not differ from
the other half Of the same set when was
not hired by the British authorities, the
buildings of this unhired half being con-
tinued in their former use
Mr.. HAY next addressed himself to the
law in the matter and says our duty mas
been laid down again and again. lie
quotes from the declaration OF Ihomds
jefferson when Secretary of state at the
time of the hostillties between England
and France: "Our citizens have always
been free to make. vend and export arms.
To supnress their callings because a war
exists in foreign and distant countries IN
which we have no concern hardly would
be expected"
Similar declarations by Alexander Ham
i,ton President Pierce. Chief Justice
Ctase and President Grant are cited.
"As for The treaty of Washington" Mr..
Hay SAYS those who allege that IL mas
any bearing upon the present situation
have not taken the trouble to read the
published jisp ltchcs Of Secretary fisn on
behalf of President Grant to Minister
Schenck at London at the time OF the
of the treaty.
The dispatch of June 10. 1871. states that
"The President understands and insists
that the second rule of Article . does not
prevent the open sale of arms or other
military supplies. etc.
In conclusion Mr.. Hay says: The
President regards IT as evident i'm view
of the quotations given above. that what
was asked by Mr.. Peason was the re-
versal of the consistent policy OF the
United States since the formation of our
riO CifiZpnc
TO sell horses and mules and to ship them
from New Orleans to any other port IS
as undoubted as their right to ship -four
mud mani whether fer the use Of civil 4 IS