MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the. First Lord of the Treasury whether he will state the terms in which the President of the United States of North America has signified to Her Majesty's 537 Government his instructions with regard to the four articles of the Declaration of Paris of 1856 in reference to the present war with Spain; and whether he will lay upon the Table the Papers embodying any declarations or announcements made either by the United States or by Spain as regards these four articles which have been communicated to Her Majesty's Government in contemplation or in consequence of the outbreak of the war?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYWith one slight exception I believe that all the information at our disposal has been communicated to the public in the Gazette of last Tuesday. I will read to my honourable Friend the official notification by the American Government:—
§ "London, April 23.
§ "My Lord,—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 recognised rules of International Law:—
§ "First, the neutral flag covers enemy's goods, with the exception of contraband of war;
§ "Second, neutral goods, with the exception of contraband of war, are not liable to capture under the enemy's flag; and
§ "Third, blockades, in order to be binding, must be effective.
§ "I have, etc.,
§ "JOHN HAY.
§ "The Most Honourable the Marquis of Salisbury, etc."
§ The exception to which I referred is an explanatory statement by the Spanish Government that the organisation of auxiliary cruisers of the navy will be based on the Prussian decree of July 24th, 1870.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESAm I right in understanding that the Declaration of the United States is a declaration of intention and not an undertaking?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have read out the exact words. The word is "intention."