The San Francisco call., 1904-08-14
THE ABUSE OF NEUTRAL PORTS.

" HE Japanese have startled Russia by entering Z
Chinese neutral port. and cutting out Russian
warsip that had sought seclusion and refuge there
At the first blush this taken violation of inter
national law and neutral rights But was it? The Rus
sian warsp was part of the armed fleet in Port Arthur
The Russians confess that she entered the Chinese port
for the purpose of notifying Skrydo, OF the Vladivos
tok feet that the Port Arthur fleet had escaped for the
purpose of making junction with him. Ibis IN itself
was the misuse OF neutral port for purpose
the distinct disadvantage of Japan After accomplishing
it, the Russian ship "disarmed' by removing the
brcech blocks from her guns with the intention of lying
indefinitely in a neutral port. The Japanese followed
her in captured her and took her out into
under the flag of Japan. adding her to their fleet
The ideas of Russia seem to be strangely muddled in
regard to neutrality and the shift and change of the
character of her ships She brought auxiliary ships
of the Black Sea. under merchant flag, and when they
were through the Dardaneles Immediately armed them
and began prcying upon neutral commerce in the Red
Sea- This was in violation of treaty stipuations which
forbid the Dardanelles Russian warships. 1t was
characteristic of Russia, however, and what the
parties treaty might have expected The ships
used had no higher character than pirates and would
have been treated as such by Great Britain had they
continued make seizures.
Taking refuge in neutral Chinese ports under construc
tive disarmament part of the policy The warship
used for that purpose could not be held there by China
She could recoal and revictual and even take war
reDreeCh
when the clear prey upon neutral ships
resume her place in the Russian feet in action
the open sea. She was dangerous to Japan than
if she were on open water for she iurked in ambush,
ready any time strike. If the Russian of
trail ports accepted the entire feet might sequester
itself temporarily in Chinese ports take off the breech
blocks and then by replacing them, and steam
out at the expiration of the limit fixed by international
law for armed ships.
1t is not intended by the law of nations that beig
shall make such of neutral ports. Especially
is it be permitted in the of Chinese ports.
China has navy with which to defend and enforce
her neutral rights in her ports Her position is
peculiar. Russia has been ready any time declare
against her Since the opening of the struggle with
Japan Russia has ceaselessly nagged China in the
hope of provoking overt act that would be
for such action The right of China protect her
frontier from invasion by the contendng forces has
been denied by Russia in protest against the appear
ance of General Mas army the border. In every
possible way Russia has sought to embrol China
Now under the preposterous claim to the of Chi
ports for disarmed warshps, Russia could put
into them her entire feet ready for declaration of
war; which would be instantly followed by the reduction
of every Chinese port This would give her an i'm
advantage Japan. and would be gained by
palpable and atrocious trick.
Under the circumstances Japan has done just what
any other nation would have done She has punished
the trick by capturing ship that too cowardly to
fight open water, and has added it to her feet In
stead of violating the neutrality of China she has
ected it, by exposing atrck that put it in peril 1t may
be expected that Russia will make Aorid protest to
the powers But nation that asks international equity
must blameess herself. and with clean hands This
Russia cannot do and matter under what diplomatic
verbage the may be softened it is safe to say
that the nations will fail get excited the incident
Japan has adequate defense and will present it with
the force that has become characteristic of her states
manship
The action itself was another evidence of japanese
courage and adventure and prompnes and the verdict
Of the lovers of fair play that she served Russia as
she deserved