Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-09
ALEXANDRIA:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1918,
coMnrsrcArrp roR rHE GAZETTE.
Circular 10 Collectors,
.Ndral Officers and Surveyors.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

Since the passage of the act OF Congress
OF the last session, concerning navigation,
an order Of the British council is understood
to have been issued. founded upon an act
Of parliament, whereby the ports OF Hall
fax, in the province of Nova Scotia, and OF
ST. Johns, in that of ew-Brunswick, have
been opened to vessels of the United States,
for the importation of certain specified arfi-
cies, and for term Of time, limited by the
act Of parliament to three years and SIX
weeks after the commencement OF the ses-
sion ofparliament then next ensuing; and
BY the order Of council subjected to the fur
Their hmita.ion of contingent tHrrher order.
As neither this act of parliament, nor the
order in council, issued under its authority,
lave effected any alteration Of the ordi-
nary lasrs Of navigation and trade, by
which the ports of Halifax and St. Johns,
are closed against vessels owned by citi-
zens Of the United States neither can they
in any manner affect the operation of the
act of Congress, concerning navigation, OF
iGth April, 1918.
The ports of the United States will,
therefore, be closed against British vessels,
from Halifax and St. Johns, in like man
ner, as if no such act of parliament and or
der of council had been issued.
1t is considered that the second section
ofthe act concerning navigation, taken with
the provso guarding against any construc-
ton of the act, which might violate the
commercial convention Of Sd July, 1915,
leaves discretionary authority 10 dispense
with the exacton of The bonds, prescribed
10y that section, in cases OF vessels and car
goes, manyestly engaged only in the direct
trade between the United States and the
British ports in Europe.
You-wil, therefore, require those bonds
and securities to be given, for all such ar
ticles, laden by British vessels for exporta-
ton from the United States, as are suitable
for the colonial markets, or are permitted
by the British laws, to be imported into
them.
Among the articles for which the bonds
and securities must be taken, are scantling,
planks, slaves, heading boards, shingles,
hoops, horses, neat cattle, sheep, hogs,
poultry, or live stock of any sort dried,
smoked, or picked fish, bread, biscuit,
flower, sybeans, potatoes. wheat, rice,
oats, barley, or grain of any sort; pitch,
tar, turpentine, fruits, seeds, and tobacco.
The articles upon the expectation OF
which in British vessels, the bonds and Sc
curities may be dispensed with, are cotton,
sugar, indigo, haxseed, coffee, pot and
pearl ash; and generally all articles not of
the growth. produce, or manufacture of the
United States.
In .he circular instructions from this de-
partment of the Gath ultimo, are contained
the following words: a British vessel sail
ing from port not opened to vessels own
ed by citizens of the United States, enter
ing port which is open, unlading there,
and taking the same, or some other cargo
on board, and clearing thence for port of
the United States, cannot be admitted TO an
entry" Having been advised that more
extensive construction will probably be
given to these words by some OF the col
lectors of the customs, than the words were
intended TO convey, take occasion to OBJ
serve, that although the expression, q" a
port which is OPEN" as there used, was
meant to have reference more Immediately
to British colonial ports, yet il is to be con-
slructed as also applying 10 British ports in
Europe, but not in an unlimited sense. A
British vessel taking in cargo at an oc-
cluded port, sailing thence for British
European port, there unlading the same,
and taking nev cargo on board, no part
thereof having at any time, been brought
in the same vessel from an occluied port,
and consisting of articles which may be
lawfully imported into the United States in
vessels owned by British subjects, will be
entitled TO an entry
The same privilege, it is to be observed,
however, cannot be extended to BRITISH
vessels employed between different colo
nal ports.
In the former case, the vessels may be
considered as having become entitled to
the benefits of the commercial convention
Of the Sd Of July, 1915; whilst IN the lat
ter, the trade being by the convention, pla-
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