Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-29
THE FLOUR SEIZURE.
The State Department Has Directed
an Inquiry Into the Facts.

The State Department Has Directed
an Inquiry Into the Facts.
WASHINGTON December 28.-The
ascertainment Of the facts connected
with the seizure of American -four by
British warships off the coast of Por-
tuguese East Africa. has been con-
fided to the United States consular
agent at Lourenzo Marques. This Off
Ger was selected by Mr.. Hollis to look
after the affairs of the United States
consulate at Lorenzo Marques during
the time he (Mr. Hollis was discharg-
ing the duty CT United States consul at
Pretoria. Mr.. Hollis has reported to
the State Department that the consular
agent is thoroughly capable Official
and may be trusted to look after Amer
lean interests at LourenZo Marques.
Under the instructions sent to him by
Secretary Hay yesterday, he will ascer-
tain all the facts connected with the
seizure of the flour and particularly
the names Of the persons to whom this
flour was consigned and the actual
ownership of the goods. The depart
ment of State is determined to do
everything proper to maintain Ameri-
can rights in the matter off neutral
trade in this case. But SO far the de-
partment is in absolute ignorance Of
many essential facts regarding the seiz-
ures 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 -four was seized as was at
first reported, and there is reason to
believe that in the case OF at least one
consignment the -four was not seized,
but was simply diverted to another
port than Lourenzo Marques, and there
left subject to the disposition of its
owners. Although this may also be a
breach of neutral privilege, it presents
a different case entirely from a seizure
outright.
To determine with accuracy all of the
elements necessary to the preparation
OF a 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
line indicated. During our late war
with Spain wherever a seizure was
made by our warshirs of a merchant
vessel laden with supplies intended for
Spanish ports, we politely informed
foreign powers which undertook to pro-
test that they would be obliged to wait
the usual and regular action OF our
prize courts. Thus when French ship
was towed into Charleston, notwith-
standing the representation made by
the French government, our govern,
ment insisted on carrying out all OF
the routine proceedings of prize trial.
In one Of the cases growing out of that
particular seizure it was nearly tvs
years before the parties claiming to be
aggrieyed 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 sim
plicity itself compared with the legal
problems presented in the stoppage of
British merchant ship by a British
man OF war and the search of a neu-
trail 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 so
far not yielded to the clamor of a GER
tain element for i'll considered and
hasty action in the case of these report
ed seizures off Delagoa Bay.