New-York tribune., 1905-06-08
orr NEUTRALITY IMPARTIAL.

,,, o,novha+ rasentful animadverslons Oh
It., ~ tbe Russian press upon the enforce
mont az American neutrality laws at Na"ia
.ra IN he regretted but should not De taken 'oo
sor;ously. They surely do not re1ect tne sen'i
nonts of responsible members of the huSslan
government nor, indeed, the result oI any
to,iiqent and judfcious consideration OF the sup-
t1on,iliarit with the facts of the case
o,d v;rl the widely advertised and century
,on,r noltcy of this country should convince any
ono Of the entire coed faith, consstene! ana IN
,,.r+iality of the American government III "s
action. ,,3.i ,,d
n is to be assumed that the adnlfais anu
o+ber high officers of the Russian nav! were
rn.de acquainted with the terms OF lhe Alne'i
ran neutrality proclamation or fepfua's -
1oo4 That instrument declared tliat peills
vessels entering American ports must uep"i
+toraIror, within twenty -four hours unless pre-
ventel by stress Of weather or need VI sup
o1ies ar repairs. and forbade the increasing
or augmentine of the force of any belllgerent
M in American waters Admiral Enqulst,
whom he sought refuge at Manila, must nave
known that such were the rules ana reguia'ions ,
which he would be required to obey. he couiu
not expect American laws to De apiosa'cu
modified in his special favor Ii ne uiu w nol
wont to obey those laws he should not nave
made himself subject to them. but shouid nave
gone to a port of some other power. ,
The implied protest against our government .
ruling that repairs of belligerent oahages ID are
NOT permissible in our waters is not valid Inc
proclamation already cited certainty ,oie
owed lust such rule. To repair the dalTi- u
aces to the fighting parts of a ship when hao
heen inflicted in battle would surely De 10 III
crease or augment its force. "Neuuais, say
tho latest edition of Wheaton, may not assiel
"beIligerent ships of war In carrying oh uie
..varlike operations" But to permit lhe repaii
of damages done in battle would De 10 oo 1us'
,bot The onening in a neutral port Oh the
..northoles of a belligereDt cruiser Whlch h''u
been previously closed is" said WashinS'o ="
hundred and ten years ago, as in"cn 0-
augmentation of the force OF the s'iu 80
"oc if the northoles were now to be cut Tor tne
..ers+ time, Half century ago it was judicially
determined that 1.-The repair OF Mexican Mai
steamers in the port of New-fork, togetnei
..u-itb tho augmentation of their force Dy auu
..ino IN the number of their guns, etc. is d VIZ
.lation of the act of 1918" Again, 1t was ue
clared that armed ships of belllgerent
..are 70 be admitted into the terrltorial "a'eA
.'of neutral for refuge. Du' 1t 10
"ouestion of mere temporary asylum, accorueo
.in obedience to the dictates OF humanity anu u
sebe regulated by specific exigency'
These are the well established prlhciple' "
American neutrality. In the present unn"pp'
conflict they have been maintained lal'hiuiis II,
toward one belligerent as fully as toward III.
other. There can be no shadow OF doubt t,lat
! had the battle of the Sea of Japan resuitee
otherwise. and had the japanese peeh pea'ei
and fled to Manila for refuge, our laws "oule
have been applied to them and enforced asa,ii'
/ them precisely as they are now against ''e t.u'
slams. If our Russian friends 1eel tleinsei' = =
hardly treated, it is against the loi'une =.
-. o,,d NOT AGAINST the impartial and consist
-. ,,o,,+ro,itv of the United States that thel
complaints should be directed.