Mr. Tourgée to Mr. Moore.
52 Cours du Jardin Public, Bordeaux, Prance, May 19, 1898.
Sir: Having been informed by the consul at Rotterdam that the Government of the Netherlands had refused to clear the Norwegian steamer Fram for a Spanish port with a cargo of refined saltpeter, and that the same had accordingly cleared for Bayonne, France, a port in this consular district, I directed the consular agent at Pau to lodge a protest with the prefect of the department of Basses Pyrenees against said steamer being allowed to clear for any Spanish port. I also lodged a like protest with the superintendent of the marine of this district.
In response to this protest the prefect of the Basses Pyrenees replies to-day (translated) as follows:
I have the honor to inform you that the minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of France, having been consulted by me by telegraph concerning the question of the detention of the Fram, advises me as follows:
“Neutral governments are formally prohibited from furnishing, themselves, directly, munitions of war to belligerents; but the neutral State is not required to prevent the sending of arms and munitions by its subjects, and, for a much stronger reason, by strangers. Under these conditions it is not incumbent on us to prevent the departure of the Fram, which you will allow to continue her voyage at her own risk and peril.”
Thinking it may be a matter of interest to the Department to know exactly what are the instructions given to French officials in regard to the enforcement of its neutrality, I report the same direct.
A copy of this letter will also be sent to the embassy at Paris.
I have, etc.,
United States Consul.