Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-28
SEIZURE OF VESSELS.
THERE is NO DISPOSITION ON THE
PART OF AMERICA TO HURRY
MATTERS.

New York. Dec. 2S.--A special to the
Tribune from Washington says: The
equanmity at the sta te department is not
at all disturbed over the significance at
tached in legal and mercantile circles
to the stepping by British warships of
British and Dutch merchant vessels
bound for Delagoa bay with cargoes eX-
ported from the United States. The Off
cials express confidence that the British
government will make full reparation for
any act committed by it's naval agents If
it turns out to have been Illegal or unjust
flied aad they profess a profund convic-
tion that lcilglishmen are not taking haz-
ardous chances just at present OF an
tagonizing any considerable popular ele-
ment
1t is not known TO the secretary of state
whether the cargoeS owned in this coun-
try have actually been coniiscated, nor
precisely what article Great Britain pro-
poses TO regard as contraband during the
continuance of the South African war.
1t is said that every nation on becoming
engaged in hostilities makes it's own rules
as rigid or as lax as the occasion seems
to demand and seldom take other nations
into its confidence on the subject. This
was the case when the war with Spain
began. Neither nation having subscribe
ed to the privateering clause of the treaty
OF Paris proclamation was issued by the
president announcing adhesion to its pro-
visions. The queen regent issued a de-
cree which, While reserVing the right of
privatoering. announced that letters OF
marGue would not be granted. But Spain
did not announce what course she intend
ed to pursue in other matters nor did the
United States except in confidential gen
eral orders to naval officials fix any def
mite policy as to seizures and cOntraband.
The supreme serenity Of the state de-
partmcnt regarding the -four seizures is
perhaps best illustrated by the steps al
ready taken to ascertain the facts OF the
case which are an essential preliminary
to further action. On the receipt of co,il-
plants from American exporters that
their PRODUCES had been detained and that
their delivery at the neutral port Of des-
tina ton, Delagoa bay. had been refus-
ed, the secretary of state Immediately
transmitted the complaints to AInbaSsa-
dor Choate at London and Consul Hollis
at Pretoria for investigation and report.
These notes went by mail and Mr.. Choate
has barely received his own by this time
while that of Consul Hollis can scarcely
reach him before March !, 1900.
AS agents of the state department re-
ply TO communications by the same means
of transmission as the original query, no
official information is apt to be in the
possession of the authorities AT Washing
ton for weeks or months. The reason
no resort to cable was taken was
found i'm precedentts established over
year ago when Notwithstanding the sell
zure of British and other steamers by
American cruisers European nations rea-
lized that this government in its admiralty
courts would determine the merits Of each
case as rapidly as possible as well as be
amenable for damages in the case of ev-
cry mistake and that the greater the mis-
take and longer the delay, the greater
would be the damages to be satisfied.
The consideration shown by foreigners
whose vessels had been captured last year
and sent under prize crews to an Amer
lean ports of detention was extremely
gratifying to this government, which
would have been seriously embarrassed
had neutral governments by show Of
imperial authorities in London are not
attitude Of Fastening the judiciary. The
point of this principle is that the British
imeprial authorities in London are not
yet more acquainted With all the facts in
the detention of ships off the south coast
of Africa than are American officials and
as these ships admittedly did not fly the
American flag there is no national affront
involved calling for drastic measures. as
when the Alliance was fired on when
CAPTAIN Si2spee brought to the Restor-
mel In the latter case the British gov
ernment made no complaint wha atever.