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Show Washington; May ii. officials In Washington wore today engrossed In considering questions of international interna-tional law relating to rights of insurrectionists insur-rectionists to secure food and other supplies from neutral territory; tho extent to which the federal authority can go In controlling the exportation of arms and munitions of war to Mexico and what authority army officers of-ficers may exercise in restricting movements of civilians, soldiers and rebels on the lorder. Tho stato department, instead of making an official declaration Indicated Indicat-ed that the administration of the nou-trlllty nou-trlllty laws reposed In tho departmout of Justice whilo exportation of arms and supplies was up to tho treasury department to decide. To Enforce Neutrality Laws. The war dopartmont simply abides by Its original orders to tho military commanders to execute neutrality laws, as thoy understood them, and If either tho treasury or stato department depart-ment was ready to conform. Actually there was no real question ques-tion before tho departments, after tho legal adviser of tho insurrootionary agent hero had been told by tho treasury treas-ury department that the trade .relations .rela-tions between El Paso and Juarez might proceed aB herotoforo. Thus at leaBt food supplies and merchandise might bo carried across the line. No attempt was made to decide as to admission of arms, that question having not been raised. Probably Prob-ably It will not be until an attempt is made to carry an invoice of rifles and ammunition through tho United States custom house. The conditions tonight will have an Important bearing bear-ing upon the treasury decision. But It is generally believed that Jn view of tho conditions In the courL that if such arms and ammunition are shipped by a regular dealer In tho United States to anothor dealecjn Juarez, they Tnust be permitted to go through the El Paso customs house provided they are not consigned to an agent of the Insurrectionists. Any decision as to Importations In Juarez would apply to any Mexican border town the Insurrectionists occupy. Can Pass Without Arms. In answer to complaints to the war department of the severe measures adopted by the United States military commander to prevent shipping across tho line, as well as the crossing of non-combatants. Colonel Steevers action ac-tion in El Paso was upheld as fully within his Instructions. He had required re-quired only that all supplies for Juarez Juar-ez be cleared through th El Paso custom house, as in normal times. Major General Wood ordered military commanders to penult free passage across the international line of all persons, Americans or Mexicans, without arms and not carrying aup-lics. aup-lics. Ambassador Wilson Informed the stato department of a gathering last night In the United States embassy In Mexico City of tho representatives of Great Britain, France, Italy Belgium, Bel-gium, Spain and Germany, to consider consid-er tbo situation there with a view to possible future contingencies. Mr. Wilson, a dean of tho dependence corps there called this mooting at tho request of colleagues, the purpose (being simply to agree ipon measures meas-ures of Bafety for the embassies and foreign residents of the capital in cas of a siege. The coast Insurrectos are preparing to reap the Immense practical benefits bene-fits which they believe arc bound to accruo through the possession of an Important international port of entry-Rebclc entry-Rebclc to Collect Duties. "We shall Immediately appoint custom cus-tom house agents that will collect duties, and who for that purpose will Inspect all mercrandlse coming through ports In our possession," Joeo Vnsconcelos,, the Insurrecto representative represen-tative hero said tonight. "To avoid damage to public interests inter-ests wo will recognize invoices signed by consuls of the Diaz government until our own consuls have been appointed ap-pointed and take office. I expect to have aud announce in a few days the! nnmc3 of consuls and customs agents. "In this -way busiuess transactions will go ahead even though wo do not get a formal recognition of our officers. The fact that their services will bo utilized by all shippers will establish a defacto situation and probably will lead to formal recognition recogni-tion by foreign governments." |