UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Department of State.
The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, bas had the honor to receive the note of Mr Grampton , Her Britannic Majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, of the2lst instant, accompanied by the déclaration of Her Majesty the queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in regard to, the rule which will for tlie présent be observed towards those Powers witb which sbe is at peace, in the existîng war with Russia.
The undersigned bas submitted those communications to the Président, and received his direction to express to Her Majesty's government his satisfaction that the principle that free sbips make free goods , which the United States bave so long and so strenuously contended for as a neutral right, and in which some of the ieading Powers of Europe bave concurred, is to bave a qualiiied sanction by the practical observance of it in the présent war by botb Great Britain and France — two of the most powerful nations of Europe.
Notwltbstanding the sincère gratification which Her Majesty*s déclaration bas given to the Président , it would bave been enhanced if the rule alluded to had been annonced as one which would bé observed not only in the présent, but in every future war in which Great Britain shallbe a party. The unconditionai sanction of tbis rule by theBristish and Frencb governments, together with the practical observance of it in the présent war, would cause it to be bcDCcforth recognised throughout the civilised world as a gênerai principle of international law. Tbis government, from its very commencement, bas labored for its récognition as a neutral rîgbt. It bas incorporated it in many of its treaties with forcign powers. France, Russia, Prussia, and other nations, bave, in various ways, fully concurred with the United States in regarding it as a sound and salutary principle, in ail respects proper to be incorporated into the law of nations.
The same considération which bas induced Her Britannic Majesty, in concurrence with the Emperor of the Frencb, to présent it as a concession in the présent war, the désire «< to préserve IL . 30
466 Xppénoice spécial. — «'t.
Ihe comrtiefee of neutrals from ail uuffecessâry obstf action », vr\\\ , îtis prestimed, have ecfimt tp^eîgbt wîlh the bellîgerents in âny future %ar, and saiisfy them that the claîms of the principal maritime powers , while neatral , to bave it recognised as a ruie of international law, are well founded, and should be no longer conlested.
To setle tlie prinçîple that rfree ships make free goods , except articles contraband of war, and tô présent it from being called again in question from any quarter or under any circumstances, the United States are desirous to unité with other powers in a deelarati^m that ît shall be observed b^ eaeh, hereafler, as a rule àf interiïatiofjal law.
Thè exéTAfttîon of the property ùf neutrals, not contraband, fjfom seizure and coufiscariori when laden on board an enemy's vessel , is a right now generafly reeognîsed by the \aisr of nations. The président îs pleased to |)ercdvé, from the déclaration of Her B^itaifÉiie Majesty, that the course! tô be pursued by hrer cruisers will not bring it into question in the présent war.
The tinSersfgnied îs directed by the président to State to Her Mafjei&ty's rtïînister tôr thfs governrtieût thàt the United States, while claîmîclg the fui! enjoyment of their rights as a neutral po^èf, t^lfl (ybserve the strîctcst néfutraifty tovt^ards cach and ail the beiligérents.' The lafws of this conntry impose severe restrîcllcffts iïot'only tipon Jfs o't^rf citizens, but upon ail persons whé may be reSidenlt withîfi any of thé territofîes of the tJnited States, rtg^iittts equippiftg pirltâteers, receli'ing cofmmisisions, or enlistîng fù^h thereîii, for the purpose of taking a part in any foreîgn ^Btfi It îs not apprehendèJ that there will be ahy àttempt to viohîë the lairs, btit Shofold the just expectattion of the Président be disappoîntc'd, he ^ill not fail in hîs daty ta use ail iht poVéf with whîc'h he îs itiVcsted td enfor<ie obédience to them. Considepritîons aï ititerest ànd the obligatioTis of duty alike give assurance that the cftizeris crf the United States will în no way cofliprômît the neutrality of fteir ciotintry by participating in the Contcfet îft whieh the principal powers of Europe are iiow anhapplly engàged.
The tindersigned avaîls bimself of thîs opportonîty to renew to Mt' C^ampton the assurance of his distinguished ccmsideratien. Washington, april 28 1854.
John F. Crampton, Esq/j etc.y etc.
W* L. MaKCYv
XI . — Ordonnance de S, M. le Roi de Naples concernant les corsaires et le commerce napolitain pendant la guerre,
Saa Maestà il Re N. S. , votendo da un lato conservare in tutta la saa estensione la neutralità adottada nella présente (ruerra, e trovando dalF altro confofml al prlnctpi deHa saa pûittiea ^aelli manifestati dalle Potetize belligerauti circa il commercio de' netitrf , si è degnata risolvere :
Che non saranno ammossi ne' Port! de* suoi Reall domini fegfil arrmati in eorso, ne saran loro sommlnistrati manlzictùt o attre^zl dl qnalonqne speefe ad essi Inservientl ;
Che îï(fn saranno rîc^evuti nei Reali portt gtt artnàtorf con pifedé, se non el easodi pericolo évidente, ne potranno da essi acquistàrsi 0g«r6ttl predatf di ^aafsiasi ùatara ;
Gbe non potranno i fiegt saddlti prelidei^ serVi2lo a bordo ai armatori esteri;
Che l legni di Tkesl bandiera no potraniio traspôttare vefnn oggetfo fteonoscfttto comtf contrabando di gaerta' ad alcuna ctelté Potenze belligeranti ;
Cbe I ifredésfm! (Krtrando Rberamente dcdicatsi al lofô cornmercione' portîenelle radedcfle Potetize beîligeireint! e trasporfare nella loro qdalifà di netltri Mahe Fcî ftief(?anzîe appartenenti à* sudditi délie dette Poteûze, eccettaada perô 11 donfrabando di gaerra;
Che infine dovranno î legni di Real bandîera astenefsî di entrare in quei porti che trovansi stretti da bkieeo reale ed effectivo , cioè quaudo è questo sostenuto da forza suffîciente e quando vi è stata formale intimazione dall' uffiziale che lo comanda;
Le norme que le Potenze belligeranti sen;uiranno circa al commercio de' neutri consistono : a che la bandiera copre la mercanzia ; che le proprietà de' neutri , anche su i legni nemici , sono inviolablli (cscluso in ambo i cas! il Cèntrabaùdo dl gùerra) ; che il blocco sostenuto da forze pro{^2iotiate, ed anntinziàto dovrà rlspettarzi; e che iufine non si rilaseeranno lettere di marca.
Si rende cio a pubbliea notizia per norma del oommercio.
Napoli, 47 magk) 485i.
Ministerio da Real secreteria di stato dèW Intemo.
468 APPENDICE SPÉCIAL. — fi"* XII, XIII.
XI L — Décret de S, Af. l'Empereur du Brésil concernant les
corsaires,
Rio de Janeiro. — Ministerio dos negocios estraogeiros, em 47 de maio de 4854.
lUm. e Exm. Sr. — Tenho a honra de participar a Y. £x. que S. M. o Imperadory attendendo aos interesses do commercio de seas subditos, e desejando observar uma estricta neotralidade darante a gaerra que infelizmente existe declarada entre a Grâa- Bretanha e a França por uma parte e a Russia peia outra, houve por bem , de conformidade corn os prineipios do direito internacional e com a legislaçâo do Imperio, adoptar as «eguintes resoluçôes:
l*" Que nenhom corsario com a bandeira de qualquer das potencias belligérantes, seja armado, approvisionado , ou admittido com suas presas nos portos do Imperio.
2* Que nenhum subdito brazileiro possa tomar parte no armamento de corsarios, nem praticar quasquer actos oppostos aos deveres de uma estricta neutralidade.
Dando a Y. Ex. conbecimento destas resoluçôes , tenho de solicitar a Y. Ex. que haja de expedir as convenientes ordens e instruççôes afim de que ellas sejâo cumpridas e executadas pelas autoridades do Imperio Ihe estâo subordioadas.
Prevaleço-me da occasiâo para reiterar a Y. Ex. as seguranças da minhaperfeita estima e distincta consideraçao (l ).
Antonio Paulino Limpo de Abbeu.
A S. Ex. 0 Sr. José Maria da Silva Paranibos.
