The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-02-18
WILL KEEP NEUTRAL
Decision of Our Government On
JapaneSe.aussian War
SEC'Y HAY MAKES SUGGESTIONS
China Be Accorded the Claim of
Japan.

" ashfngton, Special 10 Russia
and Japan the Washington government
suggests the propriety of limiting hos
tilties 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 noto
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 concurrenuy
to address Russia and Japan with the
same suggestion, and on Feb. II this
invitation was extended TO Italy, Aus
tria-Hunga-y, the Netherlands. Den
mark, Spain and Belgium.
Germany was the first 70 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 ''administra-
tive entity" Of China involved Man
churia. Japan was heard from quick
ly with the answer that she would act
readily on the suggestions of the Unit
ed States if a 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 far
has been silent and the attitude OF
France Is one of hesitation. This is the
situation tonight. Meantime it Is
learned that Germany is addressing the
combatants with note In substance
the same as that OF Secretary Hay.
Regarding the attitude OF Great Britain
il is a matter of regret to the officials
here that. as the principle is one for
which the British have stood in the
past so stalwartly, it should hold up
formal acceptance of the invitation un-
til it has learned further details. On
the highest authority it can be stated
that there are no details to the note,
as it would be manifestly impossible
to 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 for
| that reason. primarily. the suggestion
was made that hostiiities be restricted.
WASHINGTON, Special.-President
| 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 state OF war
| and that the laws of the United States
| without interfering with the free e%'
preston Of opinion and sympathy, or
! with the open manufacture or sale OF
arms or munitions Of war, nevsrthe-
| less imposes upon all persons VINO
may be within their territory and 1ur'
| isdiction the duty OF an impartial neu
| trality during the existence OF the con
| test, proclaims the provisions or the
| United States neutrality law, which
| law forbids the acceptance OF a com
| mission to serve either belllgerent, OF
| enlisting or hiring or retaining anoth'
| er person in the service OF either; ut
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 tC
| cO-
| ton of neutrality: that after Feb. Il
! there shall be lapse only of "a hours
| between the arrival and departure ot
| warships Of the two belligerents from
| United States ports, and that no war
ships shall remain in any port over p
| hours, except for necessary repair.
Such ships shall not be permitted
to talsa In any supplies except provis
ions and so much coal as may be suf
fcient to carry the vessel to the near
est home port.
The proclamation further declare:
| the principles as to the rights Of neu
trails at sea contained in the treaty be
tween the United States ard Russi;
of 1854 as permanent and i,nmutable
as follows:
That free ships make free goods
that is to say that the effects of good
belonging to subjects Of citizens OF
power or state at war are free from
capture and confiscation when foun
on board of neutral vessels, with tn
exception of articles Of contraband O
war; that the property Of neutrals ol
board an enemy's vessel Is not sub1ec
to confiscation, unless the same b
contraband OF war"
The proclamation declares that n
person within the United States shaI
| take part In the war, and warns a.
citizens that while the free and ful
expressions OF sympathies. in publ
and private. is not restricted by tn
laws of the United States militar
;; forces in aid Of either belligerent car
not lawfully be organized within thei
jurisdiction; and that while all person
may lawfully and without restriction
| by reason OF the aforesaid state c
war, manufacture and sell within th
Unit6i Estates uTms. amunitions c
war and other articles ordinaril
known as 'contraband Of war yet the