Show REGARDING neutrality A reader wants to know if all the nations of the earth were formally and actually neutral during our war with spain also what rules and regulations neutrality imposes all the nations did not det declare clare themselves neutral for the reason that some are not civilia civilized ed and the action of such Is not a matter of concern oon cern all that are civilized or partly so were neutral except hawaii which declared in favor of the united states there is but little elucidation of a condition of neutrality needed the word meaning mie aning the same in the international code that ft does in the dictionary those nations which at the outbreak of a war between two or more others declare themselves neutral ral must act that is they must give aid or comfort to neither of the combatants and place no disadvantages or hindrances rances in the way of either except when necessary for their own protection or that of some of their subjects or interests and even then not to do so aggressively or in such euch a way as to render their action other than purely defensive neither of the belligerents must be aided with anything by means of which belligerency could be carried on but in cases of extreme need of repairs provisions or coal a vessel mav put inshore fat at a neutral port and have a reasonable time borsuch for such repairs with what provisions and oal coal c are actually needed to get to the next stopping place all assistance apart from this Is unlawful and would subject the offending power to being classed as a belligerent and so go treW treated ted in espousing the cause of the united states hawaii subjected herself to attack and capture and confiscation or of her commerce by spain without being alae able to give us any more assistance than the providing of a safe land and handy harbor amounted to luckily the spanish were not at any time n a position to strike such blows or und undoubtedly they would have been dealt abundantly |