Santiago Perez to Alexandro Reyes. A true copy: DOMINGO ARTEAGA ALEMPARTO, Acting Chief Clerk, March 16, 1866

Decree by President Perez.

Considering—1st. That it is a notorious fact that vessels under neutral flags have transshipped to the Spanish squadron coal and provisions, which they need to carry on hostilities against the republic; 2d. That the state of war gives us an indisputable right to employ all proper methods to weaken the strength of the enemy, to deprive them of the means of repairing their losses, and of sustaining the contest longer; 3d. That it is right to deny those favors which our laws grant to friendly commerce when their vessels break the obligations of neutrality by giving to the enemy those facilities and resources without which the war could not be carried on; 4th. That it is the duty of the government to take those means which conduce to the legitimate ends of the war, which consist in doing the enemy all the injury necessary to oblige him to surrender or to desist from his pretensions, and to avoid the prolongation of an unjustifiable war, like the present one, which causes such damages not only to the belligerents, but also to neutral commerce; 5th. That one of these means is to cut off the enemy from communication by depriving him of those resources which neutral vessels are able to afford him—in exercise of those powers which the law of the 24th of September, 1865, confers upon me, I have resolved and decreed: Neutral vessels which, after this date, communicate with the ships of the Spanish squadron, or which furnish them fuel, provisions, ammunition, or any other supplies, will not be permitted to touch or load in any port of the republic.

Let it be recorded, communicated, and published.