It will be observed that these orders are issued by the ministers of
foreign affairs, justice, marine, and war, in cooperation, they being
authorized thereto by Her Majesty the Queen Regent.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
No. i.
The ministers of foreign affairs, justice, marine, and war,
authorized thereto by Her Majesty the Queen Regent:
In observance of the royal order of February 2, 1893 (Official
Gazette No. 46):
Hereby publicly notify all whom it may concern that, in observance of
and with a view to the maintenance of perfect neutrality during the
war which has broken out between two powers friendly to ourselves,
namely, Spain on the one side and the United States of America on
the other, the following regulations have been agreed upon:
- Article I. It is forbidden to
supply arms or ammunition to the ships of war or privateers
of the powers at war, as also to render them any assistance
whatever in the increasing of their crews, arming, or
equipment, and in general to voluntarily perform any act
that might endanger the neutrality of the State.
- Art. II. It is moreover
forbidden:
- (a)
- To equip in this country ships of war or other
vessels destined for any military end, in the
interests of the parties at war, as also to convey
or sell such like ships to the said parties.
- (b)
- To export arms, ammunition, or other war material
to the parties at war. Herein is included the
exportation of everything that is adaptable for
immediate use in war, but not those of unwrought
materials, unless they can be immediately turned to
warlike ends.
- (c)
- To recruit military men within the territory of
the State for the parties at war.
- (d)
- To organize in any military way volunteers within
the territory of the State, with the purpose of
annexing them to the army of either of the parties
at war.
The above-mentioned ministers further direct attention to articles
100, 388, and 389 of the penal code, and hereby caution all persons
domiciled within the Kingdom against becoming involved in any way in
privateering and against acceptance of any foreign privateering
ships’ papers, in view of the fact that all who shall carry on any
privateering on such papers, or assist thereto, will be prosecuted
before a Netherlands judicial authority.
Further, they direct the attention of ship commanders, shipping
agents, and ships’ freighters to the danger and detriment to which
they would expose themselves by not respecting an actual blockade or
by conveying for either of the parties at war contraband or military
dispatches, in conflict with the obligations imposed upon neutral
powers.
Persons rendering themselves guilty of such like actions are liable
to whatever results may follow, without any protection or
intervention whatever, or any claim thereto from Her Majesty’s
Government.
The above-mentioned ministers,
-
W. H. de Beaufort.
-
Cort v. d. Linden.
-
Röell.
-
Eland.
No. 2
The ministers for foreign affairs, justice, marine, and war,
authorized thereto by Her Majesty the Queen Regent:
In observance of the royal order of February 2, 1893 (Official
Gazette, No. 46):
Hereby publicly notify all whom it may concern, that in observance of
and with a view to the maintenance of perfect neutrality during the
war which has broken out between two powers friendly to ourselves,
namely, Spain on the one side and the United States of America on
the other, the following regulations have been agreed upon:
Article 1. The vessels and ships of war of
the parties at war shall be admitted to the Kingdom’s sea channels,
mentioned in article 1 of the royal order of February 2, 1893
(Official Gazette, No. 46), with due observance of the further
provisions of that order, for a sojourn not exceeding twenty-four
hours, unless it is absolutely necessary that a longer sojourn be
granted them, either for the procuring of provender or coal, or in
case of distress or dangers of the sea.
In these cases, however, they shall leave as soon as the shipment of
provender or coal has been effected, which, if possible, shall be
done within the first twenty-four hours, and, if not, then as
quickly as possible, as soon as the dangers of the sea are passed,
or in case of repairs at latest within twenty-four hours after they
have been effected.
[Page 889]
In any other case the length of the sojourn shall not exceed
twenty-four hours, except it becomes necessary in the carrying out
of the provision of article 5 of this proclamation.
Provender may be shipped so far as is necessary for the wants of the
crew, while the store of coal shall only be supplemented
sufficiently to allow the ship or vessel to reach the nearest port
of the country to which it belongs, or that of one of its allies in
the war.
The same ship may not be provided a second time with coal, except
after a lapse of three months from the first lading, unless special
permission be given.
Art. 2. Privateers shall not be admitted to
Netherlands’ ports or roads of sea channels, except in case of
dangers of the sea, distress, or lack of provender.
As soon as the reason for their admittance has ceased to exist, they
shall immediately move off.
They shall not be allowed to ship more provender than is necessary to
permit of their reaching the nearest port of the country to which
the ship belongs, or that of one of its allies in the war, and not
more coal than is necessary to provide for their wants for
twenty-four hours, sailing at a maximum pace of 10 English miles per
hour.
Within a period of three months they shall not take in a fresh cargo
of coal.
Art. 3. The ships of war or privateers of
the parties at war shall not enter Netherlands’ ports or sea
channels with prizes, except in case of dangers of the sea or lack
of provender.
As soon as the reason for their admittance has ceased to exist, they
shall move off.
They shall not be allowed to ship more provender than is necessary to
permit of their reaching the nearest port of the country to which
the ship belongs, or that of one of its allies.
Coal shall not be supplied them so long as they are in possession of
prizes.
If ships of war, pursued by the enemy, seek a refuge within our
territory, they shall liberate the prizes.
Art. 4. The sale, exchange, and free
disposal of prizes or of articles coming thence, as also of booty,
is prohibited in the ports, roads, sea channels, and in the
territorial waters of the Netherlands.
Art. 5. Ships and vessels of war, which in
virtue of articles 1, 2, and 3 are admitted, shall not remain in our
ports, roads, or sea channels beyond the time therein indicated.
If, however, war ships or other ships and vessels of the parties at
war should simultaneously be in the same harbor, roads, or sea
channel of the State, a period of twenty-four hours shall elapse
between the departure of a ship or ships, of a vessel or vessels, of
the one party and the departure of a ship or ships, of a vessel or
vessels, of the other party.
This period, according to circumstances, may be extended by the local
maritime authorities.
The above-mentioned ministers,
-
W. H. de Beaufort.
-
Cort v. d. Linden.
- Röell.
- Eland.
