New-York tribune., 1900-01-12
THE SEIZURES DISAvoWED
BRITISH GOVERNMENTS RFpry pE
CEIVED BY THE STATE
DEPARTMENT
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1RrNr- !

aShlngton, Jan 1.-THE answer Of the Brit
ish Government TO Ambassador Cboate,s renrs-
sentations regarding the seizures Of American
hour was received by the State Department To-
DAY Lord Salisbury assured Ambassador
Choate that it is the British view that food
stuhs in transit to a hostile destination can
never be regarded as contraband of war unless
they are supplied for the enemy's forces. and #
Is not sufficient that they are capable Of being
used by the enemy This assurance indicates
the complete British acquiescence eventually in
the American Interpretation Of international law
affecting the -four seizures, although the matter
IS not yet TO be regarded as settled. nor can it
be until both governments have had an oppor-
tunity to learn all about the consignments OF
the three detained vessels.
Mr. Choate, in obedience 10 at least Eve cable
dispatches from Secretary Hay. has been able
to present the broad questions involved pretty
clearly to Lord Salisbury and has received
the frank and satisfactory reply which the Ad-
ministration here was confident would be forth
coming.
1t is settled that -four destined for Delagoa
Bay. or even for Pretoria, TO be used to support
the lives Of acknowledgements or sick or wound
ed in the hospitals, is not liable TO confsCation
as contraband. This is identicaIly the broad in
depreciation desired by the United States. which
is not to be successfully questioned hereafter by
any nation, and which, in the event Of a Eu-
ropean war would operate to keep open the
market for American products.
Later this afternoon the following official an
nouncement was made by the State Depart
ment:
telegram has been received from Ambas-
sadOr Choate, reporting an interview had by
him with the Marquis OF Salisbury on the after
noon of the 10th inst. in regard To the American
shipments Of -four and provisions on the de-
tanned British steamers Beatrice and MashOna
ard the Dutch steamer Maria The British po-
sition as 10 foodstufs and hostile destination Is
that they can only be considered cOntraband of
war if supplied the enenys forces. it not be-
ing sufficient that they are capable OF being so
used but il must be shown that this was their
destination at the time Of seizure. This qualif-
cation virtually comedies the American cOnten-
ton that the goods were not subject 10 seizure
and practically disavOws the seizure, IL not be-
ing claimed there is any evidence Of hostile des-
tination.
Nothing was said directly in Mr.. Choate's
message regarding release OF the seized goods,
but OF course a fair inference from the state
ment that the goods two Of the vessels had
been found not to be contraband is that they
either viii be or have already been released #
any question arises as TO compensation TO the
owners OF account Of these seizures that can
be adjusted later Oh. II is probable, however,
that the British Government viii not wait for
any hint but will voluntarily make such amends
may seem 10 be fair.
The British Government does not claim that
any Of the American goods on the German bark
Maria and the British bark Mashona were con-
traband Of war and is Investigating the facts
in connection with the goods seized on the third
vessel, the Be1trice. II is believed that the IN
certainty as 10 the character of the Beatrice's
cargo is based on an imperfect knowledge Of the
ownership Of the goods. The American con
slgnees, however. evidently aPprehendiug that
doubt might still exist on thar Doint have come
forward with the positive statement that they
have not been paid for the goods shipped and
that the drafts drawn by the consignees in
South Africa were not coIIectible until the
goods were safely delivered at their destination
M. hopkins, Jn@ legal representative here of
one Of the largest firms concerned in the own
ership Of the goods. was al the State Depart
ment this morning 10 discuss the case with the
officials
The next step will be the collection Of data
by the state Department and the British For
elgn ONCE fully tC establish the character OF
the goods on the Beatrice