Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-29
coNprMx nRrrrsH SEIZURES.
New York Shippers Protest Against
Detention of Cnrgoes.

tafBOts OF tnfec Vessels D'uHh h""' 49,
port to Delagoa bay. South Africa, have
been virtually seized by the British au-
thorities. The object OF these proceed
ings was. II Is admitted. the prevention
of supplies reaching the Beers through
| Lorenzo Marques the port or Delagoa
bay. While none OF the three vessels
files the American flag, each carried
cargo consigned from firms in this couh-
try 10 agents at Lorenzo Marques, ana
other South African ports.
The state Department at Washington
| has taken the matter up. and has com
municated with Ambassador Choate. In
London, with reference TO 1t, directing
| him To make representations upon the
subject to the British Foreign Office. The
| department has also cabed 10 the United
States Consul AZ Lorenzo Marques direct
ing him to use all proper efforts to pro-
tect the interests Of citizens OF this cOun-
try.
The vessels whose cargoes have been
seized are the Beatrice, the Mashona, and
the Maria. The two former are owned
IN England and The last I'm Germany.
The agents for all these vessels in this
city are Norton x Sons. of the Produce
Exchange Building. The Beatrice sailed
from the North Central Pier. Atlantic
Basin, al the end Of October; the Ma
shona early I'm November and the Maria
a few days afterward Each ship carried
a full cargo Of miscellaneous freight.
mostly fOodstuifs. consigned 10 firms In
Cape Town, and other parts Of Cape
Colony and Natal and I'm Delagoa bay,
the last named point being in each case
the end Of the ships voyage.
Among the firms which sent goods on
one or more Of the vessels, and who are
sufering-at any rate tempOrarlly-by the
seizure Of the cargoes, are the Pennsyl-
vania Export and Milling Company, Of
Philadelphia, Of which A. J. & NJ. a.
TOomey, Of the Produce Exchange, are
agents; Flint Eddy & Co., Of the john
ston Building and r. w. Geldart, Of %
south William street.
A representative Of Flint Eddy & Co.,
yesterday said that the action OF the
British authorities would have a very
serious effect. II simply meant that an
important port was closed to American
commerce. The question was not az 20
whether the goods shipped by the vessels
in question were ultimately intended for
use by the Beers, but whether city be !
longing 10 a neutral country was 90 be |
closed because Great Britain wanted it,
'Of course" added this gentleman, "the |
British would not dare to- have done this |
had the cargo been shipped in American |
vessels. But 10 being British ships that /
were used. they thought they cOuld do |
what they pleased.
In answer TO an inquiry as 10 whether. |
under these circumstances, IL would not /
be possible TO charter American vessels /
for the Deagoa bay trade, the reply was !
made that there were no suitable ships !
to be obtained.
Anyway" IL was added. "Only a very |
small proportion of the cargo would. so |
far as we know, have gone ultimately /
TO the Beers, and possibly none az all. /
1t was all consigned 10 agents I'm Lorenzo |
Marques, and there is very large local |
trade i'm that place. The result of this |
proceeding IS that we and other firms !
have discontinued sending any goods a |
all to Delagoa bay, and this hurts the |
general American-SOuth African trade eX-
ceedingly"
r. W. Geldart said he had been ship
ping goods for TWO years a. a reputable /
Portuguese firm in Lorenzo Marques. lie
sent quantity of beer and lard ON the
Beatfice, and the first be knew of the
seizure was from the newspapers. Later
on he received an official notice from
Norton 4 Son, 10 the effect that by /
order of the British Government. his
goods had been transferred 10 lighters |
or hulks at East London, and were held
there at his risk. lie then went TO the
insurance agents, and they corroborated
his Information, adding that they would
have TO disclaim any responsibility for
the goods transferred.
On the Mashona Mr. Geldart had
quantity of beef and -four consigned 10
the same firm. This vessel was not to
call no Cape Town. but she was captured
by the British gunbOat Partridge and
taken TO that port. where Alr. Geldart
added, he understood she sull was. lie
had received no official notification Of the
disposition that had been made Of his
goods sent on the Mashoua.
Mr.. Geldart declared that he had laid
the matter before the Department OF
State and had received "a reply stating
that the department had communicated
with the Ambassador 10 Great Britain.
A similar reply was received from AS
misunderstanding David j. Hill by Flint,
Eddy & Co., with the additional iuforma-
zion that the United States Consul at
Lorenzo Marques had been instructed 10
use an proper means To- protect the rights
of American citizens.
"The proceedings of Selling fhe clfg0cs
of these Ships remarked Mr.. GclIIrt,
els most hgh-handed one. and ] be-
licye. without precedent. While ! have
no doubt that they Will ultimately be paid
Tor, as WeA as the prospective plOutS, / |
would much prefer 10 have the money
in my pocket now to waiting for an I'M
definite period. / intended TO ship more
goods on December 10Th but luckily
did not do so. OF course the Lorenzo
Marques firm is not going 10 pay me
for goods that are not delivered.
Il am going TO have the matter brought
mp I'm Congress. and see what redress
have for these seizures. 1t
is all nonsense 10 say that arms were
landed The Beers have been preparing
for this war ever since the jameson raid,
ana imported an the arms and ammunition
they were likely TO need. The British |
Government viii not find it easy TO prove
that goods shipped 10 Delagoa bay are
an intended for The Beers
When Luis a. de NJ T. de \. Taviera,
the Portuguese Consul-General in this
country heard OF the seizures he cider
ed that inquiry be- made as TO whether
either had been cleared for "a Portuguese !
port. He found that this was not the
case. and declared yesterday that he had
absolutely nothing TO do with tie mat
ter.
Sir Percy Sanderson the British Consul
General, remarked:
III you Will show me any one who
can define what 'contraband of war
means. ! will tell you what 1 think about
this matter. Ii our cOuntrymen con-
slider flour contraband of war, as giving
aid and comfort TO the Beers by being
part of their sustenance IL was perfect
Nv right to seize the vessels on the high
sens even though they were directed 10 |