No. 113.
Mr. Young to Mr.
Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, March 30, 1885.
(Received May 13.)
No. 696.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose a correspondence
between the legation and the consul at Ningpo.
I have thought it well to say to the consul that as China and France are at
peace with the United States, as we are officially informed that
[Page 169]
a state of war exists between the
two nations, and as it is our duty to maintain an exact neutrality, he would
be justified in refusing to enter or clear any vessels under the American
flag supplying either belligerent with contraband of war.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
696.—Extract.]
Mr. Stevens to Mr.
Young.
United
States Consulate,
Ningpo, February 27,
1885.
Sir: * * * As our nation is at peace with both
France and China, I would regard it as a questionable right upon my part
to enter and clear a ship flying the American flag loaded with
contraband articles of war for either of the contending fleets, and more
especially so if she had cleared for another port than this.
Upon this important point I should be much pleased to have your
excellency’s instructions.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 696.]
Mr. Young to Mr.
Stevens.
Sir: I have the honor, as a farther
acknowledgment of your dispatch No. 80, dated February 27, 1885, to say
that I have carefully considered the facts therein recited. I agree with
you that it would be a questionable right, under existing circumstances,
for a vessel flying the American flag to carry contraband of war for
either of the belligerent powers. Such an enterprise can only be
undertaken at the risk of the owners of the vessel. No consuls should in
my opinion give sanction to what would be regarded by either China or
France as a violation of the obligations of neutrality.
I am, &c.,
