The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-16
Instructions Which State Department Sent
10 Ambassador Chuste.
BRITISH GOVERNMENTS CONTENTION.
vlsssIs Seized lOr vosloi Of Law Of Great
Britain no Clam That inJ OF Amsrc can
Coos SIZED We're Conr,band.

Washington, Feb. i6.--Responding 70
the Senate's resolution OF Jan. IL. the
President yesterday sent the Senate a
report from the Secretary OF State with
accompanying papers showing the
steps that have Deen taken 60 obtain
the restitution OF properly OF American
citizens seized By the military author
lues OF Great Britain ia ana near Della
goa Bay, Soutn africa. The report con-
sis,s entirely OF correspondence De-
tween the S,ate Department. and. Am
bassador Choate and the BRUSH gov
eminent. The fact thai the Hour seized
had been released Was published some
tsme ago.
The cor espondence begins with the
report Of Consul General Stove, To-
Caped at Cape Town, made on Dec. D.
aIgd relating 10 TIM detention OF the
British snip Maria and the seizure OF
the British snip Mashona, and also
rhc Beatrice, all carrying American
-four and other food stufts for the
TransvaaL These acts were brought
10 the notice of Ambassador Choate by
Secretary Hay on Dec. 2l when the
latter was instructed TO bring the
matter 10 the attention of the British
government and 10 inquire as TO Gne
circumstances ana legality OF the SELF
ure." He added. III az was illegal you
WIZ request prompt action anu restitu-
ton"
Consul Hollis, at Lorenzo Marquee,
was instructed at the same time 10
use all proper efforts TO protect the
property OF american shippers.
Mr.. Choate's first note, dated Jan. l,
relates 10 the American nour on the
Mashona, and ne says in that that the
vessel was brought into the prize court
ION the charge of trading with the
enemy
ON Jan. Mr. Choate was instructed
by Mr.. Hay 20 the effect that ihe should
represent the views OF this govern
ment TO be that unless IL can be shown
that the goods were contraband II does
not regard them as subject OF capture
under me circumstances represented"
ON Jan. 4 Mr.. Choate reported a con-
ference with Lord Salisbury, who. ne
said, claimed that the Maria and the
Mashona had been seized for violation
Nf the municipal law OF Graf Britain,
the seizure beng merely an incidental
matter. and that Lord Salisbury knew
nothing OF the Beatrice. On the 10th Of |
that month Mr.. Choate transmitted |
particulars concerning the attitude of |
the British government, saying that
Lord Salisbury did not claim that any |
of the American goods seized was con- |
Sraband, the position of the British |
government being that ''foodstuffs with /
a hostile destination can be considered |
contraband only after they are sup |
piled for the enemy's forces and that |
IL lis not sufficient that t-tney are capa- /
bic OF being seized
Mr. Choate reports in this communi- /
cation Lord Salsbury's suggestion that 4
the British government settle the mat \
ter by taking the -four and paying FOR |
II at its price AT its destination.
Mr. Choate urged the sale 10 the /
British government as the simplesg and |
easiest method of settlement This |
question was still pending. however, |
wnen the correspondence ceased.
on the nth Mr.. Choate reported that |
the cargo OF the Beatrice had been dis
charged at East London and that there |
was no allegation against ", no seizure
having been contemplated: that the
cargo OF the Maria was at Durham. free |
for it's owners to take; that the Ma |
sh0na was at Cape Town, but that
owing TO the fact that there were no
bills OF lading there was much difficulty |
in dealing with it's cargo. Incidentally. |
Mr.. Choate states i'm the dispatch of
the 18th, relating to an interview with
Lord Salisbury. that "he claims 10 |
blockade or siege OF Delagoa Bay. but
only the right TO seize real contra band |
OF war on the high seas which is des-
tined for the enemys forces"
ON the 26th Mr. Choalte reported the |
conclusions OF the British authorities |
that large quantities Of the flour car
ried by the Beatrice were destined for
the South African republic. making IL
necessary tu- land al East London. as il !
was impossible To discharge this part !
of the cargo without dischargng the
remainder. allowing removal OF parts
OF the cargo for local Portuguese con-
sumption. Secretary Hay took appar-
eat exception to this proceeding. say.
ing 'it was i'm conflict with the assur-
ances that food stuIs with hostile in
tention are not Cpntrabdnd of war un- |
less intcnded as supplies for the enc
my's forces. and inadmssiblc from the
view OF the United states"
Replying To this point, Mr. Choate
said that Lord Salisbury had d'sclaim- |
cd he purposes Indicated.
The correspondence closes with a no.
tice from MI Choate 10 Mr. HAY of |
Feb 2 ~ the effect that the American |
goods on the Mashona had been placed |
az the disposal Of the American consul
general at Cape Town.