The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
SEIZURE OF FLOUR SHIPS.
TINS GOVERNMENT views IT As AN
ORDINARY ICT or wan.
Two Decisions by tho supreme Court OF
the United states THAT apparently sus-
tain Great Britnin's Action n Flour
Is Considered rs Contraband of War.


Two Decisions by the Supreme Court of
| the United states THAT Apparently sus-
| tain Great Britnin's Action n Flour
| Il Considered as Contraband of War.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.-THE Sun reporter
has the best OF authority for the statement
that the United States Government regards
the reported seizure by British warshlp OF
American -four consigned TO Lorenso Marques.
Portuguese Africa. In two British vessels and
one Dutch vessel. ns an ordinary incl
dent OF war; analogous to some OF
the seizures by American warshps OF
vessels flying neutral flags during tho Spanish
American War. and for which. II was said. this
Government stands prepared TO pay damages
II II IL shown that tho seizures were Illegal
The -four seizures differ from the Spanish War
seizures. however, In that the vessels tdkon by
American warships were supposed to BE- bound
for Spanish ports with supplies for the enemy.
whereas tho reported seizures OF the two
British ships and the Dutch ships were
made on suspicion that their carRoes
while destined for u neutral port. we're to be
sent overland through Portuguese territory
into Boer territory. IL il maintained here that
tho United States dag has not been insulted In
any way. as the vessels which carried tho
Hour flow the British and the Dutch flags.
That the Government regards the matter
shown by the fact that the instructions on tho
subject to Mr.. Choatc. the United States AM
bassador In London and Mr.. Hollis the United
States Consul at Lorenso Marques. now tenn
porarily residing in Pretoria. were sent by
mall Mr.. Hollis will not receive his copy OF
the instructions for two months at least. A
copy OF the statement nled by the Pennsyl-
vania Milling Company. the shippers and the
owners OF the flour. was sent to Mr.. Choate. |
and another copy to Mr.. Hollis. Their In
structions were merely to investigate the allo-
cations in regard to the seizures aud report to
the State Department. Until their reports are
received no action will be taken by this Gov.
eminent. II is therefore practically certain |
that tho matter will not reach basis OF Settle |
ment for several months.
Suggestions In newspapers that Great |
Britain should be called sharply to account do |
not strike n responsive chord In Government !
circles The ordinary course Of diplomacy
VII be followed and II is not doubted in off,
pensate the, American claimants for any |
, , sustained by thcm;, According to IN:
feature OF the incident Ia the question raised
hs TO the right OF bclgerent to seize goods
81 neutral nation. carried in neutral vessels
The supreme Court has passed on questions
case. but which are not exactly the ' same in
the case OF the peterhofr. British vessel. It
was heli by the supreme Court that goods. con-
sSnns war M s9ppS Sh c2m sa gh
Destined f9r Confederate military uses,
appear 70 III tho s.snr as0' o, III sSo B Dach
and British merchantmen 4 -four were
this raises another question which may have
70 be- and nrobGbly will he. determined also
to neutral rort for transshipmcnt TO the
enemy enemy TO w ey9de blocsgde. were subject TO
rorts has been declared by Great Britain. such
q condition practically exists with resncct 10
+ DGT S 81 b 2TsR'9 MSsS
,e iiHp k Tor vessels conveying goods thar
" With Gsnt Bitan no. the Beers in their
s.lnrss Eye b SafEs more nearly npry to the
others yet discovered While thew sp rTe 10 10
sn TO e9nsdera6!e, extent the action Of
are not sufficiently analogous TO compel this
Government TO acknowledge that the seizures
Of the United States is not whether the T seizure
and detontion OF the carrying ships was con-
Of the vessels conccrnsd carried 'hs STAR. nSng
Stripes. but'whethcr the seizure and detention
OF the cargo Of Hour the property Of an Amsr
underlying question is whether the hour was
national law hold that what IL or what ia not
contra band /: primarily determinahle by the
absolutely contrabani according to all nuthori.
Ties and some not cnntraband according 10 all
an,hor ttns Other nrtc es including Gour and
class. some authorities hold that articles.
no no matter OF what character or nature, des.
tined Tor the military uses OF an enemy are
SSontrahnnd; This apparently would include
n fk Intended for the nse Of the Boer army
he sent overland from LorenSo Marques to
Boer territory Ia naturally about the first thing
seemingly rest, on the British Government.
which must justify It's seizure on that ground,
i 10 eIpeeted that the rsasons for the action Of
In I.orenso Marques during the course OF tho in
The State Department has not determined
What coursn II will pursue with reference 20
vana N Hing Comrany's floor. A search OF
AUTHORITIES ia being made With that enc, in
Choatc or Mr. Hollis. or probaSIy boih. I re.
ports. In the Spanish, American war seizures
mere ma1s Of neutral shins engaged IL carry
the Spanish army in Cuba Al! these cases
wsrs na 8; h, on BY prize courts and the
Of the United States. This course is app apparentIy
followed by recourse to British courts in the
sas : ,t Of the two British ships the nn,eh ship
ish Government holds TINT tho seiauras we're
legal, legal ~ course there VIII be dipIomatic rep.
states mn to r"nt nr Pg Ihe ,6 Gnned
asserted that this Government intends That tho
exchanges between Washington and London !
shall result in deiinitOn OF the principal |
touching the right OF one neural nation 10
trad" with another neutral nation without in |
from nation NJ war
The otiicas here nrc satisfied that the Gov |
nrnment ofthc Net herlands WIFI enter a pro-
Test against the seizure of the Dutch shin IA |
he ship seized flew the Dutch ensign. a cues
Ion moro serious than that rasef by the de-
rntlon of the American nouris raised between |
Great Britain and Holland
-