The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-18
WILL KEEP NEUTRAL
Decision of Our Government On
Japanese.Russian War.
SEC'Y HAY MAKES SUGGESTIONS
He Recommends to the Powers That
China Be Accorded the Claim Of
Perfect Neutrallty-This Will Aid
Japan.

and Japan the washington government
suggests the propriety of limiting hos
tilities within as small an area as pos.
sible and of respecting the neutrality
and administration entity OF China,
that China may be free from disturb
ance and foreign interests there from
menace"
This the Associated Press is enabled
to give as the substance Of the note
addressed by Secretary Hay on Feb. 10
to the st. Petersburg and Toxic gov
ernments. On Feb. in a note to Ger
many. Great Britain and France, Mr..
Hay invited these powers concurrently
to address Russia and Japan with the
same suggestion, and on Feb. II this
invitation was extended to Italy, Aus
tria- Hungary, the Netherlands, Den
mark, Spain and Belgium.
Germany was the first to respond
with a prompt acceptance Of the in
vitation and the promise that she I'M
mediately would address the two
combatants.
Great Britain was heard from next,
expressing adherence to the principle
laid down in the note, but withholding
formal acceptance pending an answer
to an inquiry whether the "adniinistra-
tive entity" of China involved Man.
churia. Japan was heard from quick
" with the answer that she would act
readily on the suggestions OF the Unit
ed States il q similar promise could be
obtained from Russia. Italy, Hungary
and the Netherlands expressed sympa-
thy with the idea and promised an an
swer after consultation with other
powers. There Is reason to believe
that Spain and Belgium will also ac-
cept that invitation. Russia thus 1ar
has been silent and the attitude OF
France is one of hesitation. This ID the
situation tonight. Meantime 1t Is
learned that Germany is addressing the
ccmbatants with a note In substance
the same as that Of Secretary Hay.
Regarding the attitude Of Great Britain
Il is a matter OF regret to the oficials
here that. as the principle is one Tor
which the British have stood In the
past so stalwartly. 1t should hold up
formal acceptance OF the invitation un-
I'll it has earned further details. On
the hishes- authority 1t can be stated
that there are no details to the note,
as it would be manifestly impossible
10 hope for concurrent action by so
many powers upon any but the most
general lines. That the officials OF the
Washington government could have
had in mind the neutrality OF Man
churia is declared on the face OF 1t to be
absurd. Manchuria Is recognized by
this government with Korea to be the
natural theatre OF the war. and Tor
that reason. primarily. the suggestion
was made that hostilities be restricted.
Washington. Special.-PresideEt
Roosevelt Thursday issued a procla-
nation declaring the neutrality OF this
government in the Russo-Japanese
war. The document. after setting
forth the existence of a state OF war
and that the laws of the United States
without interfering with the free ex-
preston OF opinion end sympathy, or
with the open manufacture or sale OF
arms or munitions Of war, neVertne-
less imposes upon all persons VINO
may be within their territory and Jur-
isdiction the duty Of an impartial neu
trality ddring the existence OF the con-
test. proclaims the provisions OF the
United States neutrality law, which
law forbids the acceptance OF COM
mission to serve either belligerent, or
enlisting or hiring or retaining anoth-
er person in the service OF either; mt
ting out and arming, or commission
ing vessels of war, increasing the
force or armament Of any vessel OF
either Of the belligerents arriving in
United States ports. and setting on
foot any military expedition against
either belligerent.
The proclamation further declares
the use Of United States waters to
prepare for hostile operations a viola.
ton OF neutrality; that after Feb. 10
there shall be lapse only OF "a hours
between the arrival and departure of
warships of the two belligerents from
United States ports, and that no war
ships shall remain in any port over "a
hours. except for necessary repair.
Such ships shall not be permitted
to take in any supplies except provis.
ions and so much coal as may be SUI
fcient TO carry the vessel to the near.
est home port.
The proclamation further declares
the principles as to the rights OF neu-
trails at sea contained in the treaty be-
tween the United States and Russia
Of 1854 as permanent and immutable,
as follows:
That free ships make free goods
that Is to say that the effects OF goods
belonging to subjects Of citizens OF a
power or state at war are free from
capture and confiscation when found
on board of neutral vessels, with the
exception of articles Of contraband OF
war: that the property OF neutrals on
board an enemy's vessel is not subject
to confiscation. unless the same be
contraband of war"
The proclamation declares that no
person within the United States shall
take part in the war. and warns all
citizens that while the free and full
expressions of sympathies. in public
and private. is not restricted by the
laws Of the United States military
forces in aid of either belligerent can.
not lawfully be organized within their
jurisdiction; and that while ali persons
nay lawfully and without restriction
by reason of the aforesaid state Ct
war. manufacture and sell within the
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