The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-29
SEIZURE OF AMERICAN FLOUR.
The Case Referred to the COnsulal
Agent at LOurenzO Marques.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-The ascertain
ment of the facts connected with the seiz-
ure of American flour by British warshipS
off the coast of Portuguese East Africa
has been confided TO the United States con-
sular agent at Lourenzo Marques. This Of
ficer was detailed by Mr.. Hollis to look
after the affairs Of the United States con-
sulate at Lourenzo Marques during the
time he (Nr. Hollis) was discharging the
duties of the United States consul at Pre-
toria Mr. Hollis has reported to the State
Department that the consular agent is a
thoroughly capable official and may be
trusted to look after American interests at
Lourenzo Marques. Under the instructions
sent to him by Secretary Hay lie will ascer-
tain all the facts connected with the seiz-
ure of the flour and particularly the names
of the persons to whom this flour was con-
signed and the actual ownership Of the
goods.
The Department OF State is determined
to do everything proper to maintain Ameri-
can rights in the matter of neutral trade in
this case. But, so far, the department is in
absolute ignorance of many essential facts
regarding the seizures and cannot proceed
to make any complaint until it has made
sure of it's ground. 1t does not even know
that all Of the flour was seized, as was at
first reported, and there is reason to be-
lieve that in the case of at least one con-
signment, the flour was not seized, but was
simply diverted to another port than LOU
renzo Marques and there left, subject to
the disposition Of its owners Although this
may be also a breach Of neutral privileges.
ar-fi a
seizure outright.
To determine with accuracy all elements
necessary to the preparation of protest
against a seizure of the kind reported
necessarily consumes much time, and the
State Department, following the usual
course, cannot be expected to act otherwise
than in the manner indicated During our
late war with Spain. wherever a seizure
was made by our warships Of merchant
vessel laden with supplies intended for
Spanish ports, we politely informed foreign
powers which undertook to protest that
they would be obliged to wait the usual
and regular action of our prize courts.
Thus, when a French ship was towed into
Charleston, Notwithstanding the represen-
tation made by the French government,
our government insisted I'm carrying out all
the routine proceedings of prize trial. In
one of the cases growing out of that par
ticular seizure Ii was nearly two years be-
fore the persons claiming to be aggrieved
by the seizure and detention of the ship
secured a final decision of the case by the
Supreme Court of the United States. Yet
this case was simplicity itself compared
with the legal problems presented in the
stoppage of a British merchant ship by a
British man-of-war and the search of a
neutral cargo for contraband of war. These
facts are set out by the officials OF the
State Department as an explanation of the
reason why the department has not so far
yielded TO the clanor OF certain element
for ill-considered and hasty action in the
case, of those reported seizures off Delagoa
bay.