The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-05-02
cRux OF THE QUESTION.

Minneapolis Journal: While the re-
pert of Colonel Crowder, detailed by
the war department to report as to
whether the British mule camp at
Chalmette is a violation Of the neu-
trality of the United States. has not
yet been published, it is asserted that
it is of a nature that will lead the
president to order the camp broken
up. 4
There is a good deal of confusion in
the public mind as to what constitutes
neutrality. On the n HAND it seems
reasonable that the people Of the
their goods and products to all COM
yers, regardless Of whether the pur-
chasers be at peace or war with some
other nation than the United States.
That has been the historic American
theory of the privileges of a neutral.
On the other hand it seems hardly con-
sistent with strict neutrality to per-
nit officers of the British army to
maintain on American soil a regular
transport supply camp, which is as
much a base Of operations for the
British army in South Africa as the
stores at Cape Town itself.
We would net permit either Britons
OF Beers to outfit, equip and dispatch
an army from our shores. Neither
would we permit the Beers to build a
war vessel in an American shipyard,
equip and supply it for the purpose
of marrying British commerce. But
does it not come to much the same
thing, when we permit the British to
collect and ship in British transports,
directly to South Africa those mules
and horses that r as much Sup
plies of war; as guns and ammuni-
ton.
1t was this point that Attorney Gen
eral Knox had in mind when he said
that the main question was as to
whether the traffic was being carried
on as in time eft peace. There is no
question OF the British privilege to
buy and the American right to sell
horses ana mules. The question is as
to the manner in which the traffic is
conducted.
Besides general American policy as
to neutrality, and international usage,
the United States and England are
bound by the treaty of Washington of
1871 which contains these provisions:
ga neutral government is bound not
to permit or suffer either belligerent
to make use of it's ports or waters as
the base OF naval operations against
the other, or for the purpose OF re-
newal or augmentation Of military
supplies or arms or the recruitment
Of men.
"a neutral government is bound to
exercise diligence in its ports or
waters and as to all persons within
it's jurisdiction to- prevent any viola
ton Of the foregoing obligations and
duties" =
This treaty was specifically cited by
Queen Victoria in her neutrality proc.
lamation issued at the beginning OF
the war between the United States
and Spain and would doubtless have
been enforced had the United States
established at any English port such
a camp as the British have at Chal
mette.
Thus it will be seen that if the gov
eminent takes steps to break up tn
Chalmette camp, England can have
no cause to- take offense. Such
course can not be construed as an ex
preston of ill-will to England. il
will merely be the enforcement Of
that neutrality, after a careful investi
cation of the specific offense Alleged
that the American and BRITISH gov
, ernments have mutually bound them
I. selves to observe.
oRAToR!cAL WATER CURE.