The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-01
GERMAN PRESS AND OFFICIALS
Protest vigorously Against Seizures
by England Of "contraband" Yes
sells and Goods-sOme Strong Talk
on the Subject.

by England OF "ConGrapAn0 Nes-
sells and Goods-some Strong Talk
on the Subject.
BERLIN, Dec. Sl.-Regprdlng the
seizure by the British cruiser MaGIcl-
cnne, of the imperial mail steamer
Bundesrath, OF the German East Afri-
can line, a high official OF the German
foreign office, who was interviewed by
the correspondent Of the Associated
Press to-day, says:
"sllence must be preserved at pres
ent concerning the actual status OF the
negotiations which have been begun
with Great Britain about the matter:
Appropriate steps have been tnken' OF
which Germany must await the result.
The matter is regarded by Germany as
OF the utmost importance, because scr, :,
lousIy involving the rights OF neutrals.
This afternoon the foreign secretary
Count Won BuelOw, conferred az tne lDt ~ =
eIVn office with his official advisers, ana
then reported TO the emperor. A cabl-
net meeting will consider the seizure:
II Is also reported in government cir
cles that British right OF search 70 ques-
4ioned, and that In any event the BRIT
lsh right to stop passengers, whether
they intend to fight for the Beers or not.
is strenuOuSly disputed, as the Vesse!
upon which they were Is neutral, and
the territory to which they were pro-
ceedlnE, namely. DelRgoa Bay, is also
neutral. Redress, II Is asserted, VIII be
Insisted upon by Germany
The German press to-day unanimously
condemns British action In the Bundes-
rath seizure. which Is characterized as
ian instance Of gross insolence," and
as Calculated again to illustrate the
need Of 4 powerful Germany navy. TO
render such overt actions on the part
OF England Impossible In the future"
The National Zeitung strongly ar
CUES that England had not right to In
terfere with the Bundesrath, and ex-
presses the hope that she has not
adopted flexible theory regarding con-
traband.
The Lokal Anzeiger surmIses that
there must have been a serious quar-
rel between the commanders Of the
Bundesrath and the Magic!eRRe before
the latter ofIicer ''oVeTstepped his pre-.
rogatlve in carrying or the steamer"
and expresses the hope that Germany
will speedily enforce the release of the
vessel"
Even tLlG IUuuNlalV NWhNANuG aNAlNH6
calls the proceeding Characteristic
English insolence,' ana urges that 'the
whole attitude Of the English before
Delagoa Bay proVOkes general pro-
test"
II ls significant that to-day the Ger
man FlottenVereIn distributed in Ber-
lin 100000 copies Of q strongly wOrded
pamphlet, pointing out the need Of =
stronger navy,
From well informed authority It Is
learned that preliminary negotiations
have been going on for some time be-
tween Great Britain and Germany In
London, for the purpose Of extending
the scope of the treaty regarding The
Portuguese colonies, hut that the Ash
attic colonies OF Portugal ure not COM
prlSed IN the extension.
BERLIN. Dec. 3l.--Dcaplte the semi,
official disaYowRls. several OF the lead
lng German papers believe In the eX'
Istence OF a secret treaty concerning
Delagoa Bay, but they dIscredlt the
statements Of the LokRl AnEelEer re.
gardlRg lts nature, The HamburRlScheI
Correspondent says;
''Hho treaty has no definite form, and
II would only come into force In case
| Portugal should consent 10 sell pOr-
tIOn 0r her colonies II Is confined
solely TO her African possessions Rus,
] sla has seen The treaty. and has offered
no objections"
Tho NosSlrhe HetunE also asserts
that tho treaty does not mention Port
ugRl's AsiRtlc possessions.