To the Editor of the "Nora Curva Darty News."
Sim,—Now that the discussion by the British and American Press in Shanghai over the disarming of the Russian man-of-war Mandjour has ceased, it may be interesting to note the manner in which the laws of neutrality wore observed during the war between Great Britain and the two Republics, and during the Spanish-American trouble.
Asa demand was made that. strict neutrality should be enforced in Shanghai, it seems strange that a Japanese ship is allowed to load cargo for Japan, as both combatants have declared as contraband clothing and supplies, all articles of food for the army. We have at this time the sorry spectacle of the Chinese Government permitting the \Japs to make use of her harbours without even a protest. Japanese warships come and go and visit Chinese ports whenever they like, vide the anchorage at Woosung of two or three Japanese ships at a time, the coaling of thesame at Chefoo, and the taking on board of passengers there. If this is neutrality, it is a very strange variety of During the Boor war a remount department was maintained by the British in New Orleans, Louisiana, from whence horses, mules, "gra wore forwarded in Bri seat of wi At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war the American ships made use of Mirs Bay, a harbour about 35 miles north of 'Hongkong, as a base of operations. Here, after the declaration of' war, they took on coal and stores and made ready for their attack on the Spanish fleet lying in Manila harbour.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones, and it is a great sur-Prise to us that the British Press which always stands for "fair play for every one," should have displayed in this case a lamentable want of discretion. That the Russian Government should be influenced by articles which appear only in the Shanghai' newspapers is beyond. our understanding. We are pleased to seo that China is still strong enough to enforce neutrality when she is backed up by the British and American Press, but deliove that the Russian Government will not forget to claim damages from China for allowing Japanese mon-of-war and merchantmen to come to Shanghai to load coal and stores for the supply of their own army.
Another item which is well worthy of notice is that the Pacific Mail steamship Korea discharged in Nagasaki on her last {trip beef which was intended for the Russian army and which had been ordered before the outbreak of the war. If strict neutrality had been enforced, these goods should have been forwarded to Shanghai or taken back to the United States.
these few lines shall put a different complexion on the interpretation of the laws of neutrality, this letter will not be vain. Thanking you for the space. i Tam, ete., Davsvs.
March.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.