The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-01-12
GREAT BRIIllNTs RBny'
Regarding Vie Seisufe If American
Merchant Vessels.
no ooATRARAHn GOODS ABOARD.

!
Ambassador CAeats Rsxarss the An
swer ~ Htghly Satisfactory and
Broad aad Liberal in Terms-0wa.
ers wan Desbtless he Rsimhursed
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE answer Of
the British government to Mr.. Choate'l
representations respecting the seizures
OF American -four and other goods on
the three vessels Beatrice. Mashona
and Maria has been received. Just
as the ofacials Of the state department
expected, 1t amounted to partial
answer, very satisfactory. as far az II
goes. disposing Of the character Of
some Of the goods seized, but not AnaI-
" deciding broadly whether or not
foodstufs are to be regarded a. con-
traband. The British government
adopts precisely the point Of view re-
garding the seized goods that was as
sumed by the state department and
embodied by Mr. .Choate In his note
on the subject addressed to the Brit
ish foreign Office. In brief Mr.. Choate
reports as follows:
That the answer Is highly satisfac-
tory; that 1t is broad and liberal in
terms. The position assumed by the
British government is that foodstuffs
In transit to q hostile destination can
be regarded a. contraband of war only
when they are supplies for the enemy's
forces. II Is not SUFFICIENT that they
are capable Of being used for the benz
eft of the enemy; II must be shown
that they are 90 In fact through their
destination at the time of the seizure.
The British government does not claim
that any Of the American goods ON the
German bark Maria and the British
bark Mashona were contraband Of war.
The British government is Investigate
ing the facts In connection with the
goods seized on the third vessel, the
Beatrice.
1t so happened that Lord Pauncefote,
the British ambassador. was with Sec
rotary Hay shortly after he received
his message, and probably the subject
was discussed BY them. It ia certain
that both the secretary and Lord
Paunoefote appeared to be gratified at
the progress being made toward set
Element of the cases.
Nothing was said directly In Mr..
Choate's original message. nor in a
supplementary message which came
later, explanatory of the preceding
message, touching a release of the
seized goods, but Of course fair infer
ence from the statement that the goods
on two of the vessels had been found
to be not contraband, is that they
either will or have been already re-
leased. II any question arises as to
compensation to the owners on &C
count Of these seizures that can be
adjusted lated on. 1t is probable, how
ever, that the British government will
not walt for any hint, but will volun-
tarily 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, evil
IDENTIFY experimenting that doubt might
still exist on that point. have come
forward with the positive statement
that they have not been paid for the
6oSuo ohippCui anu thai TIE uTdItS
drawn by the consignees in South AZ
RIGA were not collectable until the
goods were safely delivered at their
destination.
The next step will be the collection
Of data by the state department and by
the British foreign Office to fully es-
tablfsh the character of the goods on
the Beatrice, and 1t is not expected
that there will meantime he any fur
Their deliveries by me British govern
ment upon the general subject of the
contraband character Of foodstuffs.
The following official statement was
given out by the state department:
The British position as to foodstuffs
and hostile destination is that they can
only be considered contraband of war
II supplied to the enemy's forces, it
not being sufficient that they are ca
pable Of being so used, but it must be |
shown that this was their destination
at the time of seizure. This qualifca-
ton virtually comedies the American
that the goods were not
subject to seizure, and practically dis
avows the seizure, 1t not being claim
ed that there is any evidence of hostile
destination.