The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-29
ARE IN NO HURRY.
United States Officials Take No Action in
tho Seiz, ng of Vessels.


tho ssiz ,ng of Vessels.
New York, Dec 2s.-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says The
equanimity at the state department is
not at all disturbed over the signifi-
canoe attached In legal and mercantile
circles to the stopping by British war
ships of British and Dutch merchant
vessels bound for Delagoa bay with
cargoes exported from the United
States. The officials express confidence
that the British government will make
full reparaton for any act committed
by its naval agents If it turns out to
have been Illegal or unjustifled and
they profess a profound conviction
that Englishmen are not taking haz-
ardous chances just at present of an
tagonizins any considerable popular
element.
1t Is not known to the secretary of
state whether the cargoes owned III
this country have actually been confis-
Gated. nor precisely what articles Great
Britain proposes to regard as contra
band during the continuance of the
South African war 1t is said that every
nation on becoming engaged in HOSTILE
ties makes its own rules as rigid or as
lax as the occasion seems to demand
and seldom takes other nations into it's
confidence on the subject This was the
case when the war with Spain began
Neither nation having subscribed to the
privateering clause of the treaty of
Paris, a proclamation was issued by
| the president announcing adhesion to
its provisions The queen regent issued
a decree which, while reserving the
right Of privateering, announced that
letters of marque would not be granted.
But Spain did not announce what
course she intended to pursue in other
matters, nor did the United States, ex-
cept in confidential general orders to
naval officials, fix any definite policy
as to seizures and contraband.
The supreme serenity of the state de-
partment regarding the flour seizures is
perhaps best Illustrated by the steps al
ready taken to ascertain the facts Of
the case which are an essential pre-
Hminary to further action. On the re-
ceipt Of complaints from American ex-
porters that their products had been
detained and that their delivery at the
neutral port of destination, Delagoa
bay, had been refused. the secretary of
state Immediately transmitted the COM
plants to Ambassador Choate at Lon
don and Consul Hollis at Pretoria for
investigation and report. These notes
went by mail and Mr.. Choate has bare
ly received his own by this time, while
that of Consul Hollis can scarcely
reach him before March l, 1900.
AS agents of the state department
| reply to communications by the same
means of transmission as the original
query, no official information is apt to
be in the possession Of the authoris les
at Washington for weeks or months
The reason no resort to cable was taken
was found in presidents established
! over year ago, when, notwithstand-
ing the seizure Of British and other
steamers by American cruisers, Euro
pean nations realized that this govern
ment in its admiralty courts would
| determine the merits of each case as
| RAPIDLY as possible as well as be amen
| able for damages in the case of every
| mistake and that the greater the mis-
| take and longer the delay the greater
would be the damages to be satisfied