Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-12
France Replies Officially to the
Complaints of Japan on
Neutrality Question
JusrIFlEs AL HER ACTIONS
Say. Togo Would be Given Same cour-
tesies Granted the Russian Squad
ron's Commander and That the Rules
I Governing Neutral Powers Were Not
Violated in indo China.

Paris, May 12.-France has replied
officially to Japan's' complaint by deny
Ing emphatically that any aid has been
extended to the Russian fleet that
would not have been extended to the
Japanese fleet under similar circum-
stances. The reply says in so many
words that if Togo had sailed to meet
his enemy in the Red Sea he would
have enjoyed every privilege at French
ports on the way that was extended
to Rojestvensky.
Frances argument is explained from
the time of Minister Motonos first
protest on the occasion of the stop at
Cherbourg of some Russian vessels.
Then the French government made
known to Toxic it's point of view, both
in regard to the matter of law and to
that fact in the matter of the applica-
ton of the rules OF neutrality.
It points out that strictly speaking
there is no code Of international law.
Each power has its own code.
France Explains Her Code.
The French code. oil international law
was formulated at the beginning of the
war between Spain and the United
States. It declares that belligerents
! cannot make use of. Frances ports for
the purposes of war or to obtain arms
or anmunitions or execute works with
the object Of increasing their military
power.
The duration OF the stay Of the bel
ligerents, IL they ara not accompanied
by prizes, is not limited. But they can
only be supplied with provisions and
commodities and means for repairs
that may be needed for the subsis
tence of the crews or safety in naviga-
ton. Thus, nothing brought forward
by Japan as violation of neutrality
constitutes an Illicit act. In equity and
wishing to fulfill thu. spirit and duty of
impartiahty France. admits that the
Importance of the fact OF the stay of
the Russian squadron for several weeks
In French waters creates special obli-
cations. These it has met in the full
exercise of it's sovereignty by sending:
precise instructions, to its colonial Of
flcials.
In the second place the stay Of the
Russian fleet close to Indo-Chlnese
waters has given rise to no act or
preparation for war, and the imputa-
tons emitted on this subject have no
:, foundation.
Finally, five conclusions are drawn.
/. That in law it completely has
been cleared by thu, general and motor
ious character Of its rules Of neutral-
ity.
2. That in equity, in spite of the
letter Of it's rules, it has taken GER
tain measures calculated to secure the
preservation Of absolute impartiality.
3. That as e. matter Of fact there
never have been any direct purchases
at French ports except at Algiers, and
that purchases thru the commercial
vessels escortirg the fleet have been
Insignificant; that on the contrary the
whole stock of coal for those vessels
was bought in England and Germany.
That the watcllfulness of the French
authorities in Intlo-C China is as keen
as the distances and character Of the
country permitted.
4. That at the worst all the advan-
tages which the Russians may have
derived would have been assured
equally to the japanese.
5. That in short the French govern
ment has fulfilled it's duty as a neut-
raj power so far as its means allow
ed, not only according to the letter,
hut according to the spirit of the law.