[20] *DOWNING STREET, October 6, 1863. SIR: Doubts having been expressed as to whether under the regulations of the 31st January, 1862, which were embodied in a proclamation issued by you on the 11th March following, it is required that the commander of a belligerent ship of war or privateer should obtain the permission of the local authorities before entering the ports, roadsteads, or waters of the Bahamas out-islands, when the governor is not there present, I am to acquaint you that Earl Russell has taken Her Majesty's pleasure thereupon, and you are to understand that at the ports of the out-islands, as at Nassau, the special leave of the governor himself is required, (unless in stress of weather,) by any belligerent vessel desiring to enter, with this exception only, that in cases of grave emergency and real necessity and distress, such as a sailing-vessel being dismasted, or accident happening to the machinery of a steam-vessel, the vessel may enter the ports, roadsteads, or waters on obtaining leave from a resident officer, to whom the governor shall have delegated his authority in that behalf. With a view to give effect to Her Majesty's intentions, you will be pleased to convey to the officers, in the out-islands, to whom it may best be confided, the authority in question, taking care to communicate to them copies of the regulations of the 31st of January, 1862, and calling their especial attention to the limits of the authority delegated, and to that clause of the regulations of 31st January, 1862, in which it is directed that vessels entering under stress of weather, or by special leave, shall be required to put to sea as soon as possible. I have, &c., (Signed) Governor BAYLEY, C. B., &c., &c., &c. NEWCASTLE. RETURN to an address of the honorable the House of Commons, dated June 3, 1864, for 66 Copy of any additional instructions to colonial governors on the subject of belligerent cruisers." COLONIAL OFFICE, June 6, 1864. FREDERIC ROGERS. Circular instructions to governors of colonies respecting the treatment of prizes captured by Federal or confederate cruisers, if brought into British waters. DOWNING STREET, June 2, 1964. SIR: I think it well to communicate to you the decisions at which Her Majesty's government have arrived on certain questions which have arisen respecting the treatment of prizes captured by Federal or confederate cruisers brought into British waters. 1. If any prize captured by a ship of war of either of the belligerent powers shall be brought by the captors within Her Majesty's jurisdiction, notice shall be given by the governor to the captors immediately to depart and remove such prize. officer in command to seek some more convenient destination. If, within the period prescribed by the proclamation, a vessel thus furnished with coal in one of Her Majesty's possessions should apply for a second supply in the same or another colony, the application may be granted, if it is made to appear that, owing to real necessities arising from stress of weather, the coal originally given has been prematurely exhausted before it was possible that the vessel could, under existing circumstances, have reached the destination for which it was coaled. But if it should be the case that the vessel has not, since taking in coal, been bona fide occupied in seeking her alleged destination, but has consumed her fuel in cruising, the coal should not be replenished under the terms of the proclamation. Such a case is not one to which the "special permission " referred to in the proclamation was intended to apply. Her Majesty's government are of opinion that the regulations of the proclamation, thus interpreted, should be strictly adhered to without any arbitrary concession to either belligerent. It is by such a course that misunderstandings and complaints of partiality will be most certainly avoided. An unauthorized concession to one belligerent, it may be safely assumed, will not be accepted by those to whom it is made as a justification of a similar concession in the opposite direction. In the event of any Federal or confederate vessel of war coaling at any port of the colony under your government, I have to instruct you at once to communicate to the governors of the several West Indian colonies the name of the vessel, its alleged destination, the date of receiving the coal, and the quantity allowed to be placed on board. I have, &c. 2. A vessel which shall have been actually and bona fide converted into and used as a public vessel of war shall not be deemed to be a prize within the meaning of these rules. 3. If any prize shall be brought within Her Majesty's jurisdiction through mere stress of weather, or other extreme and unavoidable necessity, the governor may allow for her removal such time as he may consider to be necessary. 4. If any prize shall not be removed at the time prescribed to the captors by the governor, the governor may detain such prize until Her Majesty's pleasure shall be inade known. 5. If any prize shall have been captured by any violation of the territory or territorial waters of Her Majesty, the governor may detain such prize until Her Majesty's pleasure shall be made known. Her Majesty's government have not thought it necessary to make any addition to the instructions already given with respect to cargoes, viz, that Her Majesty's orders apply as much to prize cargoes of every kind which may be brought by any armed ships or privateers of either belligerent into British waters as to the captured vessels themselves. They do not, however, apply to any articles which may have formed part of any such cargoes if brought within British jurisdiction, not by armed ships or privateers of either belligerent, but by other persons who may have acquired or may claim property in them by reason of any dealings with the captors. These rules are for the guidance of the executive authority, and are not intended to interfere in any way with the process of any court of justice. I have, &c., EDWARD CARDWELL. [London Gazette, September 9, 1864.] FOREIGN OFFICE, September 8, 1864. It is hereby notified that Her Majesty has been pleased to order that for the future no ship of war belonging to either of the belligerent powers of North America shall be allowed to enter, or to remain or be in any of Her Majesty's ports for the purpose of being dismantled or sold; and Her Majesty has been pleased to give directions to the commissioners of Her Majesty's customs, and to the governors of Her Majesty's coloales and foreign possessions, to see that this order is properly carried into effect. [Extract from the London Gazette of May 19, 1865.] Letter from Earl Russell to the lords commissioners of the admiralty. FOREIGN OFFICE, May 11, 1865. MY LORDS: I have the honor to acquaint you that, in the existing state of the civil war in America, and the uncertainty which may be felt as to its continuance, it appears to Her Majesty's government that the time has arrived for ceasing to enforce so much of the orders which, in pursuance of my letter of the 31st of January, 1862, were issued by the several departments of Her Majesty's government, as empowered the authorities of any port belonging to Her Majesty, either in the United Kingdom or the Channel Islands, or in any of Her Majesty's colonies or foreign possessions or dependencies, to require any ship of war or privateer of either belligerent which might enter any port, roadstead, or waters belonging to Her Majesty, in order to obtain provisions or other things necessary for the subsistence of her crew, or to effect repairs, to put to sea as soon as possible after the expiration of a period of twenty-four hours, without permitting her to take in supplies beyond what might be necessary for her immediate use; and not to suffer any such vessel as might have been allowed to remain within British waters for the purpose of repairs to continue in any port, roadstead, or waters belonging to Her Majesty for a longer period than twenty-four hours after her necessary repairs should have been completed; and also so much of the same orders as limited the quantity of coal and the period within which it might be obtained, to be embarked on board any such ship of war or privateer of either belligerent. I have addressed a similar letter to the secretaries of State for the home, colonial, war, and India departments, and to the lords commissioners of Her Majesty's treasury. I am, &c., (Signed) RUSSELL. NOTE. A similar letter has been addressed to the secretaries of state for the home, colonial, war, and India departments, and to the lords commissioners of Her Majesty's treasury. [Extract from the London Gazette of June 6, 1865.] Letter from Earl Russell to the lords commissioners of the admiralty. FOREIGN OFFICE, June 2, 1865. MY LORDS: I have the honor to state to your lordships that, since the date of my letter of the 11th ultimo, intelligence has reached this country that the late president of the so-called Confederate States has been captured by the military forces of the United States, and has been transported as a prisoner to Fort Monroe, and that the armies hitherto kept in the field by the Confederate States have, for the most part, surrendered or dispersed. In this posture of affairs, Her Majesty's government are of opinion that neutral nations cannot but consider the civil war in North America as at an end. In conformity with this opinion, Her Majesty's government recognize that peace has been restored within the whole territory of which the United States of North America, before the commencement of the civil war, were in undisturbed possession. As a necessary consequence of such recognition on the part of Her Majesty's government, Her Majesty's several authorities in all ports, harbors, and waters belonging to Her Majesty, whether in the United Kingdom or beyond the seas, must henceforth refuse permission to any vessel of war carrying a confederate flag to enter any such ports, harbors, and waters; and must require any confederate vessels of war which, at the time when these orders reach Her Majesty's authorities in such ports, harbors, and waters may have already entered therein on the faith of proclamations heretofore issued by Her Majesty, and which, having complied with the provisions of such proclamations, may be actually within such ports, harbors, and waters, forthwith to depart from them. But Her Majesty's government consider that a due regard for national good faith and honor requires that Her Majesty's authorities should be instructed, as regards any such confederate vessels so departing, that they should have the benefit of the prohibition heretofore enforced against pursuit of them within twenty-four hours by a cruiser of the United States lying at the time within any such ports, harbors, and waters, and that such prohibition should be then and for the last time maintained in their favor. If, however, the commander of any confederate vessel of war which may be found in any port, harbor, or waters of Her Majesty's dominions at the time these new orders are received by Her Majesty's authorities, or may enter such port, harbor, or waters within a month after these new orders are received, should wish to divest his vessel of her warlike character, and, after disarming her, to remain without a confederate flag in British waters, Her Majesty's authorities may allow the commander of such vessel to do so at his own risk in all respects, in which case he should be distinctly apprised that he is to expect no further protection from Her Majesty's government except such as he may be entitled to in the ordinary course of the administration of the law in time of peace. The rule of twenty-four hours would, of course, not be applicable to the case of such a vessel. I have addressed a similar letter to the secretaries of state for the home, colonial, India, and war offices, and also to the lords commissioners of Her Majesty's [22] treasury, requesting them, as I do your lordships, to issue instructions in conformity with the decision of Her Majesty's government to the several British authorities at home or abroad who may be called upon to act in the matter. I am, &c., RUSSELL. NOTE.-A similar letter was addressed to the secretaries of state for the ho:ne, colonial, war, and India departments, and to the lords commissioners of Her Majesty's treasury. No. 3. DECLARATIONS AND NOTIFICATIONS ISSUED BY OTHER GOVERNMENTS DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA. FRANCE. Declaration respecting neutrality of France during the struggle in America. PARIS, le 10 juin 1861. Le ministre des affaires étrangères a soumis à l'empereur la déclaration suivante, que sa majesté a revêtue de son approbation: Déclaration. Sa majesté l'empereur des français, prenant en considération l'état de paix qui existe entre la France et les états-Unis d'Amérique, a résolu de maintenir une stricte neutralité dans la lutte engagée entre le gouvernements de l'union et les états qui prétendent former une confédération particulière. En conséquence, sa majesté, vu l'article 14 de l'ordonnance de la marine du mois d'août 1861, l'article 3 de la loi du 10 avril 1825, les articles 84 et 85 du code pénal 65 et suivants du décret du 24 mars 1852, 313, et suivants du Code pénal. Maritime, et l'article 21 du Code Napoléon, Déclare: 1. Il ne sera permis à aucun navire de guerre ou corsaire de l'un ou Tantre des belligérants d'entrer et de séjourner avec des prises dans nos ports ou rades pendant plus de vingt-quatre heures, hors le cas de relâche forcée. 2. Aucune vente d'objets provenant de prises ne pourra avoir lieu dans nos dits ports ou rades. 3. Il est interdit à tout Français de prendre commission de l'une des deux parties pour armer des vaisseaux en guerre, ou d'accepter des lettres de marque pour faire la course maritime, ou de concourrir d'une manière quelconque à l'equipement ou l'armement d'une navire de guerre ou corsaire de l'une des deux parties. 4. Il est également interdit à tout Français, résidant en France ou à l'étranger, de s'enrôler ou prendre du service, soit dans l'armée de terre, soit à bord des bâtiments de guerre ou des corsaires de l'un ou de l'autre des belligérants. 5. Les Français residant en France ou à l'étranger devront également s'abstenir de tout fait qui, commis en violation des lois de l'empire ou du droit des gens, pourrait être considéré comme un acte hostile à l'une des deux parties, et contraire à la neutralité que nous avons résolu d'observer. Les contrevenants aux défenses et recommendations contenues dans la présente déclaration seront poursuivis, s'il y a lieu, conformément aux dispositions de la loi du 10 avril 1825, et aux articles 84 et 85 du Code pénal, sans préjudice de l'application qu'il pourrait y avoir lieu de faire aux dits contrevenants des dispositions de l'article 21 du Code Napoléon, et des articles 65 et suivants du décret du 24 mars, 1852, sur la marine marchande, 313 et suivants du Code pénal pour l'armée de mer. Sa majesté déclare, en outre, que tout Français qui ne se sera pas conformé aux présentes prescriptions ne pourra prétendre à aucune pro tection de son gouvernement contre les actes ou mesures, quels qu'ils soient, que les belligérants pourraient exercer ou décréter. (Signé) Le ministre des affaires étrangères, NAPOLÉON. E. THOUVENAL. Circulaire addressée par le ministre de la marine le 5 février 1864, aux préfets maritimes, déterminant les régles à observer à l'égard des navires des belligérants de l'Amérique du nord. PARIS, le 5 février 1864. MESSIEURS: Par sa déclaration du 10 juin 1861, insérée au Moniteur, le gouvernement de l'empereur a fait connaître les principes qui servent de base à la neutralité qu'il entendait observer dans la guerre qui ensanglante l'Amérique du nord. Depuis lors, ces principes ont reçu leur application tant dans nos colonies que dans les ports de la métropole. Toutefois, la continuation de la guerre ayant conduit les belligérants à porter le théâtre des hostilités maritimes dans les eaux voisines des états neutres de l'Europe, et les ayant amenés à chercher dans nos ports des moyens de réparations et de ravitaillement, le gouvernement de l'empereur a jugé utile de vous rappeler de nouveau les règles à observer pour maintenir sa neutralité conformément au droit public et aux traditions de la marine française, et de déterminer, en conséquence, le traitment qui doit être appliqué, sans distinction de pavillon, anx bâtiments des belligérants. Vous aurez donc à tenir la main à la stricte exécution des dispositions suivantes : 1. Aucun bâtiment de guerre ou corsaire belligérant ne sera admis à séjourner plus de vingt-quatre heures dans un port de l'empire ou des colonies françaises ou dans les eaux adjacentes, sauf le [23] *cas de relâche forcée pour cause de mauvais temps, d'avaries ou d'épuisement des approvisionments nécessaires à la sécurité de la navigation. 2. En aucun cas, un belligérant ne peut faire usage d'un port français dans un but de guerre ou pour s'y approvisionner d'armes ou de munitions de guerre, ou pour y exécuter, sous prétexte de réparations, des travaux ayant pour but d'augmenter sa puissance militaire. 3. Il ne peut être fourni à un navire de guerre ou corsaire belligérant que les vivres, denrées, et moyens de réparations nécessaires à la subsistence de son équipage et à la sécurité de sa navigation. 4. Aucun bâtiment de guerre ou corsaire belligérant, admis à se ravitailler ou à se réparer dans un port français, ne pourra y prolonger son séjour au-delà de vingt-quatre heures après que ses provisions seront embarqués et ses réparations terminées, sauf le cas prévu ci-après. Lorsque des bâtiments de guerre, corsaires ou navires de commerce des deux parties belligérantes se trouveront ensemble dans un port français, il y aura un intervalle qui ne pourra être moindre de vingtquatre heures entre le départ de tout navire de l'un des belligérants et le départ subséquent de tout bâtiment de guerre ou corsaire de l'autre belligérant. Ce délai sera étendu, en cas de besoin, sur l'ordre de l'antorité maritime, autant que cela pourra être nécessaire. Vous aurez soin de donner connaissance des dispositions qui précè dent à toute navire, de l'un ou de l'autres de belligérants, qui se présenterait dans les ports, rades, ou eaux soumis à votre commandement. Comte P. DE CHASSELOUP-LAUBAT. (Signé) |