The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-04
a TIMELY OPPORTUNITY.

The administration now has an oppor-
tunity to measurably allay the suspicion
that Colonial Secretary Chamberlain spoke
the truth when he declared there was
secret alliance between his and this coun-
try British warships have seized Amer
lean goods in transport by merchant YES
sells 10 Lourenzo Marquez. The United
states has proclaimed An attitude Of neu-
trality toward the South African war and
has maintained It in good faith SO far as
the country has been advised.
No warrant exists In international law
for the seizure OF merchandise. not con
trnhand of war, consigned 10 neutral
port The merchantmen in question car
ried cargoes OF -four and miscellaneous
articles of common trade" according to
the cabled statement OF Ambassador
Choate,
4 Under a strict application of National
prerogative. as defined by international
ethics, Great Britain has clearly provided
the United states with provocatlon OF war.
! Certainly this would be the view n a
similar seizure had been made by the war
ships OF country to which we sustained
less friendly relations than those that are
supposed to exist under covert alliance
With Great Britain,
The rights Of neutral on the high
seas as well as tho rights OF belligerent
have been specifically declared by ad-
| judcation. Food products and mlsccl-
laneous cargo not containing implements
of war. are not coutraband. except wher
, II can be concluslvely shown that suct
I cargo is designed for the use OF tn,
enemy. and rarely ever then, To ADM
tho right OF seizure by belligerent o
. goods not contraband OF war, especial!
: when consigned from a neutral to a ueu
! trail as in this case. on the mere assump
$ tion that such cargo was In fact destine,
. TO the enemy, would be to destroy al
Q commerce between United States ports an,
ports accessible to the Dutch republics.
Great Britain would submit TO no suc
= outrageous interpretation of the right
and privileges OF a belligerent.
In 1856 France had an angry argumen
, with China and, during its progress, pro
claimed nm order declaring all cargoes G
" rice bound for certain designated ports t
be contraband of war and subject to seiz
, ure. The British government rose up Il
prompt and vigorous protest and declare
itself as follows:
Her majesty's government does not eonte'
that under particular circumstances Pre-
| visions may acquire that character, as, 10
instance, II they should be consigned direC
TO the feet OF a belligeront. or to port wher
such fleet may be lying, and facts shoul
exist raising the presumption that they wer
about to be employed in yietualinR tho &c,
u of tho enemy. In such case II is not dene
Il that the beliigerent would be entitled 20 SELF
the provisions as contrahand OF war on Ii
ground that they would enable warlke op,
II ration 20 be carried on, But her majesty
!. soyernment can not admit that II such pre-
: visions were consigned 20 the mort Of hellis
i erent teven though II should be a port
. naval equipmenD they could therefore
y necessarily regarded as contrahand OF va
Il In the view OF her majesty's government n
"a test appears 10 be whether there are circum
stances relative 70 any particular cargo.
y It's destination, to disniace the presumptiu
te that articles OF this kind are intended for II
ordinary use Of life, and to show, prin
70 faele. at all events. that they are destined (,
|. military use.
N The report comes from Washington this
L
. instruct tho British government that thi
l. country can not admit the right Of seizur
l. In the cases cited above. Upon the vigc
D. with which this government shall insl.
g. upon British observance OF its rights as
at neutral, VIII depend the fact OF whetht
A. its neutrality Is honest or whether IL
b. but proclamation 10 give aid and con
st fort to the British bellleerent. In the sout
" African argument, In compliance with
o. secret understandings. There is much res
Mt soa for tho belief that this administratIo
u has committed the government OF IN
pc United States 70 some sort 81 an allane
" with Great Britain. Now ist the outrar
~ Of this unwsrrsnted seizure but end In
=, perfuno'ory protest 10 he adjusted AZ N
ne conclusion o. a wssriscme Tor Of DISCUS,
2. irs dir'omscy, and the American p.opl
70 WIN come TO know that III. Adminis,rs,lop