The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-16

To Protest Against Seizure of Ameri-
can Cargoes Partial, but Satisfactory
So Far as 1t Goes.

Washington, January 1.-THE an
swer of the British government to Mr..
Choate's representations respecting the
seizure of American flour and other
goods on the vessels Beatrice, Mashona
and Maria has been received. Just as
the officials of the state department eX-
pected, it amounted to a partial an
Swer, very satisfactory, as far as it
goes, ~disposing of the character of some
of the goods seized, but not finally de-
Gliding broadly whether or not food
stuffs are to be regarded as contraband.
The British government adopted pre-
cisely the point Of view regarding the
seized goods that was assumed by the
state department and embodied by Mr..
Choate in his note On the subject ad-
dressed t othe British foreign office.
In brief Mr.. Choate reports as fol-
lows:
That the answer is highly satisfac-
tory; it is broad and liberal in terms.
The position assumed by the British
government IS that food stuffs in trans
it to a foreign destination can be re-
garded as contraband of war only when
they are supplies for the enemy's
forces. 1t is not sufficient thai they
are capable of being used for the bene-
fit of the enemy; it must be shown that
they are so in fact through their desti-
nation at the time of the seizure. The
British government does not claim that
any of the American goods on the Ger
man bark Maria and the British bark
Mashona were c~ontraband of war. The
British government is Investigating the
facts in connection with the goods seiZ-
ed on the third vessel, the Beatrice.
Mr.. Choate's message embodied sue
cinctly the authorities relied upon by
the British government to sustain it's
position, a position already assumed
by this government. Lord Pauncefote,
the British ambassador, was with the
secretary shortly after he received his
message and both appeared gratifed
at the progress TOWARD a settlement of
the cases. Though not mentioned by
Mr.. Choate, it is inferred here that h
seized goods either will be, or have
been already released. Any possible
question as to compensation to the
wner can be adjusted later on. 1t is
probable, however, that the British
government will voluntarily MAKE such
amends as seems to be fair.
1t is believed that the uncertainty as
to the character of the Beatrice'S cargo
is based upon an imperfect knowledge
Of the ownership of the goods. The
American conSignorS however, evident
ly experimenting that doubt might exist
on that point, have come Onward with
the positive statement that they have
not been paid for the goods shipped,
and hat the drafts drawn by the con-
signees in South Africa were not col
lectable until the goods were safely de-
livered at their destination. The two
governments will now seek to establish
the character of these goods.
Later in the day the following official
statement was given out by h state
department.:
"A telegram has been received from
| Ambassador Choate reporting an in
terview had by him with the Marquis
of Salisbury on the afternoon of the
10th instant in regard to the American
shipments of flour and provisions on
the detained British Beatrice
and Mashona and the Dutch steamer
Maria. The British position as to food
stuff and hostile destination is that
they can only be considered contraband
of war if supplied for the enemy's
forces, it not being sufficient that they
are capable of being so used, but it
must be shown that this was their des-
tination at the time of seizure. This
qualification virtually comedies the
American contention that the goods
were not subject to seizure and practi-
cally disavows h seizure, it not being
claimed that there is any evidence of
hostile destination.