No. 2.—Circular with reference to neutrality.
Translation of circular of April
16, 1851.
The minister of foreign affairs and the minister of justice,
empowered thereto by the King, warn by these presents all
inhabitants of the kingdom not to engage in any manner whatever,
during the present war, in privateering, as no lettres de marque
given by belligerent powers, without consent of the Dutch
government, to Dutch citizens, will have any legal force.
[576] The ministers aforesaid further
announce to the public that the Dutch government, observing a strict
neutrality, will not grant sanction to commissions or lettres de
marque, and that, therefore, the King’s subjects, and all those who
for any reason whatever are subject to the laws of the kingdom who,
on such documents, should engage in privateering or help thereto,
can be considered by other powers as pirates and treated as such,
and will be prosecuted by Dutch judges, and for crime against the
*safety of the state, and for robbery on the highway.
- VAN HALL.
- D. DONBER CUBTIUS.
The
Hague, April 16,
1854.
Translation of circular of 17th June, 1861.
[Nederlandsche Staats-Courant,
Sunday 16 and Monday June 17, 1861.]
[577] The ministers of foreign affairs
and of justice, empowered thereto by the King, by these presents
warn all inhabitants of the kingdom not to engage in any way or
manner in privateering during the present troubles in the United
States of North America, as the Dutch government (having agreed
some time ago to respect the rules of sea-right, fixed upon by
the Congress of Paris of 1856, where among other things privateering was
abolished) will not grant sanction to commissions or
lettres de marque, that therefore commissions or lettres de
marque which contrary to the above-named rules will be issued to
Dutch citizens will have no legal consequence whatever, and
that, therefore, the King’s subjects and all those subject for
whatever reason to the laws of the country, who on such papers
might engage in privateering or help thereto, may be considered
by other nations as pirates, and will be prosecuted
[Page 137]
by Dutch judges for
such acts committed as are punishable by law.
The ministers aforesaid,
- VON ZUYLEN.
- VAN NYEVELT.
- GODEFROI.
