à observer à l'égard des deux parties belligérantes une parfaite et impartiale neutralité.

Le Gouvernement Impérial a pris acte des déclarations des Gouvernements Espagnol et Américain relativement à leur intention de se conformer, pendant toute la durée de la guerre, aux principes généralement reconnus du droit international, à savoir:

1. Le pavillon neutre couvre la marchandise ennemie, à l'exception de la contrebande de guerre.

2. La marchandise neutre, à l'exception de la contrebande de guerre, n'est pas saisissable sous pavillon ennemi; et

3. Le blocus, pour être obligatoire, doit être effectif.

Tous les sujets de Sa Majesté l'Empereur, de même que toutes les personnes qui se trouvent sous la protection des lois de l'Empire, sont tenus de remplir les obligations que comporte l'état de neutralité. Ceux qui contreviendraient à ces dispositions seront responsables devant la loi, et ne pourront, en aucun cas, recevoir aide ou protection de la part du Gouvernement Impérial ou de ses Agents Diplomatiques et Consulaires à l'étranger.

Le Gouvernement Impérial déclare, en outre, que les bâtiments de guerre des deux Puissances belligérantes ne pourront entrer dans les ports Russes que pour vingt-quatre heures. Dans les cas de mauvais temps, d'absence à bord d'objets ou de provisions nécessaires à l'entretien de l'équipage, ou bien pour cause de réparations indispensables, la prolongation du délai susindiqué ne pourra être accordée chaque fois que sur une autorisation spéciale du Gouvernement Impérial.

Dans le cas où des navires appartenant aux deux Parties belligérantes entreraient dans un port Russe, le navire marchand ou le navire de guerre de l'une des Parties belligérantes ne pourra sortir du port que vingt-quatre heures après que le navire de l'autre Partie aura quitté le même port.

La veute des prises est absolument défendue dans les ports Russes.

DECREE of the King of Sweden and Norway, concerning the Outbreak of War between Foreign Nations (War between Spain and the United States).—Stockholm, April 25, 1898.

(Translation.)

WE, Oscar, by God's grace King of Sweden and Norway, the Goths and the Wends, hereby make known that inasmuch as war has broken out between foreign nations, we desire herewith to direct the attention of those whom it may concern to the strict observance

of the Royal Decree of the 8th April, 1854,* which lays down the measures to be observed for the safeguard of Swedish trade and shipping during war between foreign Naval Powers, and of the Decree of the 13th September, 1855, which determines that the article "lead" is contraband of war; also of the Decree of the 29th July, 1870, regarding the right interpretation of section 5 in the first-mentioned Decree.

Moreover, that instead of the rescript affixed in a note to section 1 of the first-mentioned Decree, dated the 1st March, 1841, and the 15th August, 1851, the Royal Decrees of the 27th November, 1891, of the 31st December, 1891, and of the 24th February, 1893, should now be considered in force.

All these, as is fit, must be strictly obeyed.
In witness, &c.

OSCAR.

NOTIFICATION of the Belgian Government, relative to Neutrality in the War between Spain and the United States. -Brussels, April 26, 1898.

L'ESPAGNE et les États-Unis d'Amérique se trouvant en état de guerre, le Gouvernement rappelle aux nationaux que la Belgique est perpétuellement neutre et que tout acte contraire aux devoirs de la neutralité doit être évité avec soin.

Le Code Pénal contient la disposition suivante qu'il peut être utile de signaler à l'attention publique :

"Article 123. Quiconque par des actions hostiles non approuvées par le Gouvernement aura exposé l'État à des hostilités de la part d'une Puissance étrangère sera puni de la détention de cinq à dix ans, et si des hostilités s'en sont suivies de la détention de dix à quinze ans.

* Ordinance of the King of Sweden and Norway, relative to Contraband of War.- Stockholm, April 8, 1854.

[See Vol. XLVI, page 833.]

BRITISH NOTIFICATION of the Rules intended to be observed by the United States in case of War with Spain.*. London, May 3, 1898.

Foreign Office, May 3, 1898.

THE Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has received the following note from the American Ambassador at this Court :

MY LORD,

:

American Embassy, London, April 23, 1898.

I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship that I have been informed of the intention of the Government of the United States, in the event of hostilities between that Government and Spain, not to resort to privateering, but to adhere to the following recognized Rules of international law :

1. The neutral flag covers enemy's goods with the exception of contraband of war;

2. Neutral goods, with the exception of contraband of war, are not liable to capture under the enemy's flag; and

3. Blockades, in order to be binding, must be effective.

The Marquess of Salisbury.

I have, &c.,

JOHN HAY.

BRITISH NOTIFICATION of a Proclamation by the President of the United States, laying down Rules of International Law to be followed in the War with Spain (Maritime Law, &c.).t-London, May 9, 1898.

Foreign Office, May 9, 1898.

HER Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has this day received, through Her Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, the following Proclamation, which has been issued by the President of the United States of America :

[Existence of War.-Spain.]

By the President of the United States of America.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas by an Act of Congress approved the 25th April, 1898, it is declared that war exists and that war has existed since the 21st day of April, A.D. 1898, including said day, between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain; and

* From the "London Gazette" of May 3, 1898.
From the "London Gazette" of May 10, 1898.

Whereas it being desirable that such war should be conducted upon principles in harmony with the present views of nations, and sanctioned by their recent practice, it has already been announced that the policy of this Government will not be to resort to privateering, but to adhere to the Rules of the Declaration of Paris:

Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and the laws, do hereby declare and proclaim :

1. The neutral flag covers enemy's goods, with the exception of contraband of war.

2. Neutral goods, not contraband of war, are not liable to confiscation under the enemy's flag.

3. Blockades in order to be binding must be effective.

4. Spanish merchant-vessels, in any ports or places within the United States, shall be allowed till the 21st May, 1898, inclusive, for loading their cargoes and departing from such ports or places; and such Spanish merchant-vessels, if met at sea by any United States' ship, shall be permitted to continue their voyage, if, on examination of their papers, it shall appear that their cargoes were taken on board before the expiration of the above term; Provided, that nothing herein contained shall apply to Spanish vessels having on board any officer in the military or naval service of the enemy, or any coal (except such as may be necessary for their voyage), or any other article prohibited or contraband of war, or any despatch of or to the Spanish Government.

5. Any Spanish merchant-vessel which, prior to the 21st May, 1898, shall have sailed from any foreign port bound for any port or place in the United States, shall be permitted to enter such port or place, and to discharge her cargo, and afterwards forthwith to depart without molestation; and any such vessel, if met at sea by any United States' ship, shall be permitted to continue her voyage to any port not blockaded.

6. The right of search is to be exercised with strict regard to the rights of neutrals, and the voyages of mail-steamers are not to be interfered with except on the clearest grounds of suspicion of a violation of law in respect of contraband or blockade.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, on the 26th day of April, in the year of our Lord 1898, and of the Independence of the United States the 122nd.

By the President:

(L.S.) WILLIAM MCKINLEY.

ALVEY A. ADEE, Acting Secretary of State.

TREATY of Peace between the United States and Spain.*Signed at Paris, December 10, 1898.

[Ratifications exchanged at Washington, April 11, 1899.]

THE United States of America and Her Majesty the QueenRegent of Spain, in the name of her august son, Don Alfonso XIII, desiring to end the state of war now existing between the two countries, have for that purpose appointed as Plenipotentiaries:

The President of the United States, William R. Day, Cushman K Davis, William P. Frye, George Gray, and Whitelaw Reid, citizens of the United States;

And Her Majesty the Queen-Regent of Spain, Don Eugenio Montero Ríos, President of the Senate; Don Buenaventura de Abarzuza, Senator of the Kingdom and ex-Minister of the Crown; Don José de Garnica, Deputy to the Cortes and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; Don Wenceslao Ramirez de Villa-Urrutia, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Brussels; and Don Rafael Cerero, General of Division;

Who, having assembled in Paris, and having exchanged their full powers, which were found to be in due and proper form, have, after discussion of the matters before them, agreed upon the following Articles:

ART. I. Spain relinquishes all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba.

And as the island is, upon its evacuation by Spain, to be occupied by the United States, the United States will, so long as such occupation shall last, assume and discharge the obligations that may under international law result from the facts of its occupation, for the protection of life and property.

II. Spain cedes to the United States the Island of Porto Rico and other islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, and the Island of Guam in the Marianas or Ladrones.

III. Spain cedes to the United States the archipelago known as the Philippine Islands, and comprehending the islands lying within the following line:-t

A line running from west to east along or near the 20th parallel of north latitude, and through the middle of the navigable channel of Bachi, from the 118th to the 127th degree meridian of longitude

* Signed also in the Spanish language.

An explanatory Treaty respecting the Islands of Cagayan Sulu, and Sibutu, was signed on the 7th November, 1900. Will be given in a subsequent volume.