The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-26
SEIZURE OF AMERICAN FLOUR.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-Secretary of
State Hay will have a thorough investiga-
tion made of the reported seizure by cruis-
ers Of several cargoes of American flour off
Delagoa bay, South Af.ica. Instructions
have been sent to the american consul at
Lourenzo Marques, Portuguese South Afri-
ca, directing him to make a thorough in
quiry and to dc everything i'm his power
to prevent illegal Interference with Ameri-
can commerce by sither belligerent. Am
bassador Choate las also been instructed
to make inquiries in London and to make
such representa- tons to the British Foreign
Office as the fats in the case may justify.
What action viii De taken by the govern
ment will DEFEND on what is revealed by
the inquiry. The reports that reach WASH
ington are uaofficial and very meager.
They indicate that the British Foreign
Office acted IN the theory that the flour
was distinction the Boer army. but they
do not indicfte what evidence the British
naval commanders had to justify them in
reaching thtt conclusion.
At Is cortended by the legal representa-
tives of ne American shippers that the
Hour was shipped to bona fide purchasers
In Portuedese territory, and that the ship
pers has no knowledge of any ulterior
destination. If it can be shown that the
nour WIS shipped from the United States
for the express purpose of being for
warde. from Delagoa bay into the Trans
vaal will be held by the British govern
| ment that the shipment was technically
underinternational law a continuous voy-
/
to sszure as If it had been in transit TO
the Transvaal. This doctrine of con-
tinusls voyage was adhered to very
stroi,ly by the United States during the
! civilSvar. The most celebrated case under
IL w's that of the British ship Springbroke,
whih sailed from a British port for Mas
sau another British port, with goods in
tened tc be reshipped from that port i'm
aneher vessel and carried into the Con-
fedsacy. The Springbroke was captured
peite reaching Nassau and was taken to
| Me- York, where she was adjudged law
iuiprize and her cargo was condemned
Ths decision was upheld by the Supreme
Cort of the United States.
4 is true" said S. G.. Hopkins, of the
la firm of Hopkins & Hopkins. that we
hse, as counsel for Messrs. Flint, Eddy &
g, made certain representations to the
apartment OF State as a result OF the
4ashona and the Maria incidents. Our
Cents were owners of a large portion of
te cargoes contained in each vessel. and,
hough both We're under the British flag,
J" did not believe her Majestys naval off,
c.s possessed. even in the exercise of their
udoubted belligerent right, the authority
detain and perhaps divert the cargoes
iom their proper observation-disclosures
tarques. These cargoes. containing no
.ontraband OF war, We're consigned by
american citizens to neutral merchants
within neutral territory. and such being
he case We do not believe the cargoes
lhould have been molested beyond a mere
detention for purposes OF examination. We
10 not understand and do not believe that
The property of our clients has been actual
fy seized, but we are informed that IL has
been interfered with I'm transit and has not
ct reached its destination