Neutrality

A neutral nation may, if so disposed, without a breach of her neutral character, grant permission to both belligerents to equip their vessels of war within her territory. But without such permission the subjects of such belligerent powers have no right to equip vessels of war, or to increase or augment their force, either with arms or with men, within the territory of such neutral nation. Such unauthorized acts violate her sovereignty and her rights as a neutral. All captures made by means of such equipments are illegal in relation to such nation, and it is competent to her Courts to punish the offenders, and, in case the prizes taken by her are brought infra praesidia, to order them to be restored.

The state of a nation which takes no part between two or more other nations at war with each other. The strict definition rather imports the duty which a neutral owes to a belligerent, than the relative situation in which that belligerent chooses to place her. But as it rests with every belligerent to determine, according to its views of expediency, in what way it will deal with neutrals who have acted in violation of their duty; neturality, therefore, in a more enlarged sense, may signify that permitted relation between any two states, after the right to its continuance has been forfeited by one of them. 1 M. & S. 459. Neutrality consists in the observance of a strict and honest impartiality, so as not to afford advantage in the war to either party, and particularly in so far restraining its trade to the accustomed course which is held in time of peace as not to render assistance to one of the belligerents in escaping the effects of the other's hostilities. Even a loan of money to one of the belligerent parties is considered a violation of neutrality. 9 J. B. Moore, 586. A fraudulent neutrality is considered as no neutrality. NEVER INDEBTED (Law Lat. wmgwom tract, substituted by the late pleading rules in place of the plea of nil debet {q. v.) Reg. Hillary Term, 4 Wm. IV.; Steph. PI. 156. The substance of it is that the defendant "never was indebted in manner and form as in the declaration alleged." Id. It is made the proper form of plea in cases where the defendant means to deny, in point of fact, the existence of any express contract to the effect alleged in the declaration, or to deny the matters of fact from whicli such conti'act would, by law, be implied. Wharton,

The state of a nation which takes no part between two or more other nations at wav. U. S. v. The Three Friends, 166 U. S. 1, 17 Sup. Ct 495, 41 In Ed. 807.

— Neutrality laws. Acts of congress which forbid the fitting out and equipping of armed vessels, or the enlisting of troops, for the aid of either of two bslligerent powers with which the United States is at peace.

— Neutrality proclamation. A proclamation by the president of the United States, issued on the outbreak of a war between two powers with bath of which the United States is at peace, announcing the neutrality of the United Slates and warning nil citizens to. refrain from any breach of the neutrality laws.

A state of being neutral.

The state of a nation which takes no part between two or more other nations at war.

Siding with neither party iu a war; sustaining a relation of amity to belligerents. Neutrality is "strict," and "imperfect;" and imperfect neutrality is either " impartial " or " qualified." •