Year: 1870

British Defence of the Queens Neutrality


Why Does Not Prussia Address rhe United


States s-NO "BenevoIence" in Absolute


Neutrality.


The following Is the complete text Of the reply OF
Che English Cabinet to the Prussan circular of Count
Bestorr on the subject of British neutrality in the
war. 1t Is a very impudent document, not only to
the Powers OF Europe, but also to the government Of
the United States:--


EARL GRANVILLE TO COUNT BERNsToFF:--


FOREIGN OFFICE, Oct. Il, 1870.


M. L'AMBAssADEUR-I have the honor to acknow-
Sth instant.


The friendly spirit of your reply to the obs rva-
lions which addressed to you on the 18th ultimo,
on the subject Of the attitude OF this country a
neutral, and the attention which you have evi-
dently given to the arguments and explanations
which placed before You, encourage her Maestys
government IN the belief that the calm discussion
by the two governments of the difficult question Of
the claims or belligerents upon nentras Is cal:u-
lated to remove present Misunderstanding and
possibly to pave the way for an eventual solution.
/ have also to thank your EXcellency fer having
pointed out certain apparent breaches in the chain
Of prac3ce which have described as forming an
unbroEen precedenI for the course now adopted and
thus an0rdlng me an opportunity Tor CIV
ing such further explanations as viii es-
tabilsh beyond q doubt Its consistency. The
grounds on which 1t Is based were fully ex-
planned IN my former note that l need not again
advert to the subject further than to observe that
your Excellency Is wrsng in supposing that at any
time cnange took place In that policy. From the
date oil The outbreak OF Tue war The Cabinet has
never hesitated as to the course which should be
pursued The views OF the House OF Commons were
clearly manifested when on the 4th OF August an
amendment. by which 1t was proposed TO insert in
the Foreign Enlistment act, then under discussion,
clause prohibiting the expectation to beigerents
OF arms or munitions OF war, was rejected by a large
majority, and the same opinions were shown to be
held In The House OF Lords in the debate or Sth OF
August on the same bill, in which the Lord Chancel
lor the Lord Privy Seal and Lord Cairns took part.
myself, In answer to a question addressed to me In
the House Of Lords by the Marquis OF Canricarde
doubts whether a policy OF prohibltion was ad-
visable even In sel.-defence, and in the
stant conversations on the subject which have had
with your Excellency since the commencement
OF the war have invariably explained 70 you that
the new Foreign Enlistment act neither diminished
nor added 10 the powers OF the government as re-
garded the expectation or munitions or war, and
that was our Intention to adhere that point to
the usual practice Of this country, which practice
we believe to be In conformity with the established
principles OF public law had supposed that, IRON
lency would have been in position fuzzy to acuuant
the North German government with the attitude
which this country might be expected to maintaini
shat previously TO the receipt OF my note of the 18th
alt, you had doubts upon the subject can md
nothing in my earlier notes TO which you refer which
could lead " the inference that there was any hesI-
tati0n on the part OF her Majesty's government;
those notes. written In reply 70 specific statements
made by your Excellency respecting alleged exp or
tatons OF munitions OF war, contained merely the
acknowledgements which were due to your Excel.
leney a matter or courtesy. promises OF inquiry
into facts and brief reports OF the results OF nvest-
cations.


Your Exccllency appears to take exception TO my
having instituted inquiries 2 ALL but upon this point
most respectfully diner. Whatever view may be
taken OF the principle on which the government has
acted 1t is right that the facts should be correctly
ascertained. Wild rumors have been In circulation
as to the extent to which arms are being supplied
by this country to France bitter articles founded Oh
these rumors, have been inserted in the German
newspapers; your Excelency based upon them ire
quent and strong representations, and her Maesty5
government might, in my opinion, fairly be accused
Of supineness aud neglect IT. at the meeting Of Par
lament, tncy should be so linlorIned as to be un-
able 10 supply any Information upon this point. IL
was possible, moreover, that the shipments OF arms
might have been OF such nature as to bring them
within the operation or the clauses Of tho
Foreign Enlistment act, forbidding the de-
spatch Of storeshlps the fitting out of
military or naval expeditions. 1t was for these
reasons that felt 1t TO be my duty to investigate
any statements brought to my notice by your Excel
lensy, and moi TO allow them, h unsupported TO pass
uncnallenged. The necessity for this inquiry viii
be the more obvious when the complaints made
from time 10 time by your Rxcelency are compared
uith the snsUsn Which 1 Raye rstuSneA " tAemi