Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-09
CONTRAoAND OF WAR.

Baltimore American. The United States
has notified Great Britain that seizures of
American vessels will not be tolerated as a
matter OF British right. This sounds like
an echo from out of the dim pasts of his
tory.
Buffalo Express: Another strong point
scored by German newspapers in discussing
the seizures in Delagoa bay is that in 1870
English firms made considerable money by
selling not only food and ordinary mer-
chandise, but even arms to the French.
St. Louis Globe Democrat: It ought to be
apparent to the British government that
the repeated seizure of German vessels in
South African waters is bad policy. A Ger
man historian in an article in one of the
American magazines recently said there
was only che man in Germany who did not
hate England and that was the kaiser. The
story now is that the kaiser himself is be-
ginning to get angry at England. This may
or NAV not be true. but the folly OF Eng
lands course is pretty apparent to most
persons by this time.
Kansas City Star: Speaking of seizures on
the high seas, probably the most high
handed affair since the British frigate
Leopold searched the United States frigate
Chesapeake for British deserters was the
taking Of the Confederate commissioners
from the British mail steamer Trent by the
United States steamer San Jacinto. When
England demanded their release the State
department made the amusing contention
that the commissioners were contrabands OF
war and hence liable to seizure on the high
seas. England's reply was to prepare for
war and the prisoners were released.
Detroit Free Press: Ambassador Choate
has been to see the British premier about
&c. raIo-oa Ia,, pnpr Cai1lrpg Hn tn'd
Lord Salisbury that the three captured car
goes in two British and one Holland ship
we're American breadstuffs consigned to
reputable merchants, in a neutral port and
therefore not properly subject to seizure as
contraband of war. The premier was nom
committal. The British government had yet
to ascertain what it considers contraband.
But don't borrow any trouble about it"
said Lord Salisbury to Ambassador Choate,
in effect. THE commercial rights of our
dear kinsmen across the sea will be equit-
ably considered So ended the interview.
New York Times: There is nothing high
fown or fantastic about the German insist
ence that their m shall not be in
terfered with wantonly. Without doubt We
should seriously resent the seizure OF an
American ship which was followed by de-
tanning and searching her to the extent Of
unloading her cargo, unless undoubted and
unquestioned contraband was found on
board, the ships papers to the contrary not
withstanding. We have been saved from the
irritation the Germans are undergoing by
the fact that the seizures OF American goods
have been effected on board of British ships.
If the ships had been under our flag We
should have been much more disposed to
take offense.
Washington Post: II England can stop,
search, perhaps seize, any vessel bearing
freight to a neutral port, no matter upon
what pretext, then our commercial interests
are at England's mercy absolutely. For our
part, we think that the government of the
United States should address itself to this
clear-cut question. There should be no
hide-and-s seek nonsense about specific in
stances, no long postponements over diplo-
matte jargon. Are we to submit to, or shall
we peremptorily forbid, all interference
with our with neutral ports?
There is no other issue consistent with our
dignity and material welfare. The alterna-
tive is clearly before us. Either free COM
merce for us, or a ruinous suspension of our
foreign trade and a paralysis of our do
nestle industries.