[Inclosure—Translation.]
a proclamation by the president.
Whereas we are happily at peace with all nations, states, and powers;
and
Whereas a state of war now exists between His Majesty the King of
Spain, represented during his minority by Her Majesty the Queen
Regent of the Kingdom, and the United States of America, and between
their respective subjects and citizens; and
Whereas the Republic of Liberia is on terms of friendship and in
treaty stipulations with each of these nations aforesaid; and
Whereas we are desirous of preserving these peaceful relations—
Therefore, it is our firm purpose and determination to maintain a
strict neutrality in and during the said state of war now unhappily
existing between the aforesaid nations.
We recognize as binding upon us as a State that system of national
justice known as the law of nations, as it is now generally
accepted, and we do hereby enjoin all citizens of Liberia to abstain
from committing any of the following acts:
- (1)
- The fitting out, arming, or equipping or aiding in the
same, within this jurisdiction, of any vessel or vessels
intended, or reasonably believed to be intended, to cruise
or carry on war with or against either of the aforesaid
belligerents.
- (2)
- The supplying or aiding to furnish any guns, ammunitions,
or other munitions of war.
- (3)
- The illegal enlisting in the army or navy of either of the
aforesaid belligerents.
All citizens of the Republic of Liberia are warned against committing
any of the above acts or in any way contravening the laws of
neutrality as above defined.
And our public officers (both civil, naval, and military) are hereby
commanded and directed to exercise due diligence to see that our
ports or waters are not used as a base of operations by either of
the aforesaid belligerents against the other or for the purpose of
repairing, renewal, or increase of military supplies or arms or
vessels or enlisting of men.
Now therefore, I, William David Coleman, by virtue of the authority
vested in
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me as President
of the Republic of Liberia, by and with the advice of the cabinet,
do issue this proclamation.
And I strictly charge and command all citizens of Liberia, under the
stern displeasure of the laws, to take notice and govern themselves
accordingly in observing a strict and impartial neutrality in and
during the state of war now waging and going on aforesaid, and to
abstain from violating or contravening our Liberian statutes or the
law of nations relating thereto.
Done at Monrovia,
Liberia, on the 20th day of June, A. D. 1898, and the
year of our independence the fifty-first.
W. D. Coleman,
President.
By the President:
G. W.
Gibson,
Secretary of
State.
