The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-29
The Recent Flour Seizure.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 2S.-The
asccrtainment Of the facts connected
with the seizure OF American flour by
British warships Off the coast OF Por-
tuguese East Africa, has been confided
to the United States consular agent at
Lourenzo Marques. This officer was
selected by Mr.. Hollis TO look after the
affairs of the United States consulate
at Lourenzo Marques during the time
he, Mr.. Hollis, was dIscharging the
duty Of United States consul at Pre-
torla. Mr.. Hollis has reported to the
state department that the consular
agent is thoroughly capable Official
and may be trusted to look after
American interests at Lourenzo Mar
ques. Under the instructions sent to
him by Secretary Hay yesterday he
will ascertain all OF the facts connected
with the seizure Of the -four and par
tIcularly the names of the persons to
whom this flour was consigned, and the
actual ownership OF the goods. The
department Of state is determined to do
everything proper to maintain Amerl-
can rights in the matter OF neutral
trade in this case. But so far the de-
partment is in absolute ignorance Of
many essential facts regarding the
seizures, and cannot proceed to make
any complaint until 1t has made sure
Of its ground. 1t does not even know
that all Of the flour was seized, as was
at first reported, and there ls reason to
believe that in the case Of at least one
consignment the flour 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 n
breach OF neutral privilege. 1t presents
n different case entirely from seizure
outright.
To determine with accuracy all OF
the elements necessary to the prepar-
alton of u 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 seizure was
made by our warshIps OF a merchant
vessel laden with supplies intended for
Spanish ports, we politely Informed for
eIgn powers which undertook to pro-
test that they would be obliged to
walt the usual and regular action OF
our prize courts. Thus, when a French
shin was towed into Charleston, not
wlthstanding the representation made
by the French government. our govern
ment insisted on carrying out all Of
the routine proceedings Of n prize trial.
In one OF the cases growing out OF
that particular seizure It was nearly
two years before the parties claiming
10 be aEkrlevcd by the seizure and de-
tantlon of the ship, secured a final de-
cIBlon OF the case by the supreme court
OF the United StRtcs. Yet this case was
simplicity itself, compared with the le-
gal problems presented In the stoppRge
OF British merchant ship by II Brit
lsh manyof-war and the search of n
neutral cargo for contraband OF war.
These facts are set out By the officials
of the state department as an EXPLAIN
tlon of the reason why the department
has 10 far not yielded to the clamor OF
certain element for lll-cOnsidercd and
hnsty action in the case OF these re-
portcd seizures on Delngoa Bay.